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In a world where the international news brings us ongoing stories of deepening doom, the One World Centre took to the streets of Douglas to celebrate hope! December 10th 2008 marked the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and we marked the occasion on Saturday 6th December with the samba band and a parade!
“Just sometimes in politics there are rare moments of inspiration and vision” says Cheryl Cousins the Coordinator of the One World Centre “when the United Nations compiled the Universal Declaration of Human Rights sixty years ago, it was one of those moments. It was born out of the atrocities of the second world war, in recognition that “disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind” “ Unbelievably, “ says Cheryl “ it was the very first international recognition that all human beings have fundamental rights and freedoms!”
Within the Declaration it states clearly that “every individual and every member of society… shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms” Cheryl continues “I question how effective we have been in doing that? We only have to look at our daily news to see human rights abuses across the world. But instead of accepting this gloomy scenario we’ve decided it is time to remind ourselves of the vision of the Declaration; it was written as a commitment to universal dignity and justice, it protects us all. It has bought about justice and freedom for people both here and around the world. It applies to everyone, everywhere . It represents a contract between governments and their peoples who have a right to demand that this document be respected. The drafters of the declaration saw a future of freedom from fear, but also of freedom from want. All countries have, in theory, accepted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and that is something we should celebrate... and then become proactive in ensuring that the acceptance is not just in name only!”
“Through the One World Centre we have compiled an abbreviated version of the 30 articles into a poster pack which will be downloadable from our website, we are also contacting all schools with information for assembles and debate. If as citizens of the world we are going to be proactive in ensuring that others live in dignity, we have to know the freedoms that have been universally accepted.”
Saturday 6th of December was a day of awareness raising and celebrating, with a massive birthday cake, music and juggling at the Farmers market and in Strand Street. The One World Centre were working in conjunction with Amnesty International IoM who launched the first of their greetings card signings. There will be other card signings at different venues around the Island in the new year where information for anyone wishing to write a card to those suffering as a result of humans rights abuse will be available .
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