Making the future positive for animal and human rights

Ross_Alumni

Human Rights Day 2020

Human Rights Day is observed every year on 10th December. It is the day the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR  in 1948). The UDHR is a milestone document that proclaims the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being - regardless of race, colour, religion, disability, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Available in more than 500 languages, it is the most translated document in the world.

The focus of Human Rights Day 2020

This year’s Human Rights Day theme relates to the COVID-19 pandemic and focuses on the need to build back better by ensuring Human Rights are central to recovery efforts.
We will reach our common global goals only if we are able to create equal opportunities for all, address the failures exposed and exploited by COVID-19, and apply human rights standards to tackle entrenched, systematic, and intergenerational inequalities, exclusion and discrimination.
December 10th is an opportunity to reaffirm the importance of human rights in re-building the world we want, the need for global solidarity as well as our interconnectedness and shared humanity.
Under UN Human Rights’ generic call to action “Stand Up for Human rights”, The aim is to engage the general public and UN family to bolster transformative action and showcase practical and inspirational examples that can contribute to recovering better. As well as fostering more resilient and just societies.

Animal Rights Day 2020

The annual International Animal Rights Day (IARD), also held on 10th December, aims to remember the animal victims of human tyranny and call for the recognition of our Universal Declaration of Animal Rights (UDAR).
The goal of the event is to build on the recognition of human rights, and persuade humanity that kindness and respect is owed to all sentient creatures. 

What you could do for Animal Rights Day

Thousands of animal rights supporters across the world hold candlelit vigils and other inspiring events to mark the annual IARD. Ethical pioneers unite to remember the billions of animals subjected to deliberate cruelty and killing across the world every year.
This coordinated global day of action has intensified calls for the recognition of the rights of all sentient beings to life, liberty and natural enjoyment.
Here are some suggestions of what you could consider doing to improve the lives of animals worldwide, both today and in the future:

• volunteer at your local animal shelter
• foster an animal, such as a cat or a dog
• go vegan, or vegetarian
• only buy products that are not tested on animals
• report animal cruelty, you can find information about doing that here.

Over to you

Do you have any thoughts on where society is at in terms of ensuring humans and animals alike have access to their rights?
Have you considered, or done, any of the above actions in support of animal welfare?
When building back after the pandemic, what does society need to consider to ensure that human and animal rights are honoured as much as ever?

Rebecca7

'Be kind'

SherryH

It will be interesting to monitor this review https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-launches-independent-review-of-the-human-rights-act

Cher_Alumni

@SherryH We will be keeping an eye on that definitely.  

On the subject of human rights, I'd recommend visiting the Rightful Lives website if you haven't already.  This is an online exhibition that explores how the human rights framework is lacking in application to people who have learning difficulties and/or autism.  It is at times a difficult read but a valuable one too, and very thought provoking.  If you take a look, let me know what you think.  

66Mustang

I have a question about human rights which I wonder if somebody can answer

A few times in the past I’ve heard for example racist or homophobic comments and when challenged the person who made the comment said they are simply utilising their right to free speech

However by using their right to free speech they are surely violating the rights of the target of their comments?

This leads us to a game of trumps where we have to decide who’s rights are more important - the free speech of the comment maker or the rights of the target of the abuse

Is there a way of deciding who’s rights come out on top here? I’m sure we all have our views on who is “in the right” but I’m more interested in if there is an official method for determining the answer.

I hope that makes sense

SherryH

@66Mustang

I think this article sums it up https://www.amnesty.org.uk/free-speech-freedom-expression-human-right

So very much depends on what has been said and the law of the land where you are by the looks of it.

66Mustang

Thanks @SherryH