10/12/2015
REMEMBER YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO SPEAK UP!!!
DECEMBER 10! HUMAN RIGHTS DAY
HUMAN RIGHTS DAY is a reminder of how undemocratic systems of government and of abuse of authority have lead to injustice, oppression, violence and discrimination of all manners.
On 10 December 1948, the Universal Declaration was adopted by the General Assembly by a vote of 48 in favor, none against, and eight abstentions (the Soviet Union, Ukrainian SSR, Byelorussian SSR, People's Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, People's Republic of Poland, Union of South Africa, Czechoslovakia, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia). Honduras and Yemen—both members of UN at the time—failed to vote or abstain. South Africa's position can be seen as an attempt to protect its system of apartheid, which clearly violated any number of articles in the Declaration. The Saudi Arabian delegation's abstention was prompted primarily by two of the Declaration's articles: Article 18, which states that everyone has the right "to change his religion or belief"; and Article 16, on equal marriage rights. The six communist nations abstentions centered on the view that the Declaration did not go far enough in condemning fascism and Na**sm. Eleanor Roosevelt attributed the abstention of the Soviet bloc nations to Article 13, which provided the right of citizens to leave their countries.
The following countries voted in favor of the Declaration however:
• Afghanistan
• Argentina
• Australia
• Belgium
• Bolivia
• Brazil
• Burma
• Canada
• Chile
• China
• Colombia
• Costa Rica
• Cuba
• Denmark
• Dominican Republic
• Ecuador
• Egypt
• El Salvador
• Ethiopia
• France
• Greece
• Guatemala
• Haiti
• Iceland
• India
• Iran
• Iraq
• Lebanon
• Liberia
• Luxembourg
• Mexico
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Nicaragua
• Norway
• Pakistan
• Panama
• Paraguay
• Peru
• Philippines
• Siam
• Sweden
• Syria
• Turkey
• United Kingdom
• United States
• Uruguay
• Venezuela
By the time of this Charter Nigeria was not in existent but later included the basic rights in the Constitution after 1960. Human rights in Nigeria are mainly protected under the most current constitution of 1999. Nigeria has made serious improvements in human rights under this constitution but still has uncovered ends. According to the American Human Rights Report of 2012 significant improvement is needed, which include: abuses by Boko Haram, killings by governmental forces, lack of social equality, and issues with freedom of speech. The Human Rights Watch's 2015 World Report states that intensified violence by Boko Haram, restrictions of Le***an, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) rights and government corruption continue to undermine the status of human rights in Nigeria.
As we mark the 2015 world human rights day we feel there are still great needs for improvement in the rights of every individual across the globe and with key interest in our dear nation Nigeria. Issues as related to life, social equality, racism, child labour, child marriage, human trafficking, domestic violence, electoral violence, corruption, nepotism, ethnic crisis, religious crisis, and terrorism.
We must focus on brotherhood, unite and uphold our rights to free worship or assembly, freedom of association, freedom of movement, right to education, right to security, right to a green earth, and freedom of expression and the right to know.
Again with the debut bill on the social media from the Senate is yet another attempt to annihilate the rights of Nigerians to freedom of speech as contained within the ambit of the constitution.
Frankly speaking the bill seeking two years imprisonment with an option of two million Naira fine for any Nigerian who posts abusive statements on the social media, is an attempt to foster speech restriction on Nigerians.
We must arise and fight for our human rights. It is not optional or negotiable; if the government can't give you take it yourself.
SPEAK UP...STOP DISCRIMINATION. IT IS SOCIETY FOR ALL.
