Every Human Has Rights

Every Human Has Rights is an initiative of CIVICUS, the world alliance for citizen participation. We work around the world to strengthen civil society. We protect and grow the space where people can voice their opinions and organise and we build collaborations between different organisations and activists.

We already have members in more than 100 countries. But we need you to add your support because more members make us stronger. And then we in turn can amplify your voice for change.

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Your Registration Code: COM2012

22 October 2012, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Five years since the declaration of a Decade for Youth Development and five years to go.  As we mark this milestone, African Youth Decade Alliance (AYDA) is launching big campaign in Africa, which is developed and run by African youth for the benefit of African youth and through African youth.

The campaign will be launched on African Youth Day, the 1^st of November 2012, at the Intercontinental Hotel in Addis Ababa. Representatives from Continental and International organisations as well as Members of Diplomatic corps will be in attendance.

The aim of the Five and Five Campaign is to raise awareness of African youth and increase their contribution to the implementation of the Youth Decade Plan of Action (DPoA), in order to accelerate youth development and empowerment in Africa.  The campaign will also mobilize youth participation in the regional International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Beyond 2014 review process.

The Guest of Honour at the campaign’s launch will be, Archbishop Ndungane, who is the Founder and President of African Monitor, former Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town. Read more...

Friday 2 November 2012
16:00 – 17:45
London

The UN Secretary General  has appointed a High Level Panel (HLP) of Eminent Personsthat will provide recommendations on the post-2015 development framework that will succeed the current Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The second meeting of the HLP will take place on 1 November 2012 in London, UK followed by a day of engagement with civil society on 2 November 2012.

All representatives of civil society groups with an interest in the post-2015 agenda are invited to register for a Civil Society Dialogue with the High Level Panel that will take place on 2 November from 16:00 – 17:45 in London.

Attendance at the event will be strictly limited with registration open to only 200 people. Only one registration per organisation will be accepted. Places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. No funding is available to assist with attendance at this event.

Registration will be open from 12 noon (GMT) Wednesday 24 October to Thursday 12 noon (GMT) 25 October on the following website: http://www.bond.org.uk/pages/civil-society-dialogue-event.html.

The event will also be live streamed on www.worldwewant2015.org and opportunities will be available to contribute via social media as the meeting takes place. Details of this will be confirmed on the World We Want 2015 website closer to the date.

Shulamith Koenig – Founding President of  PDHRE, People’s Movement for Human Rights Learning  - UN Chronicle , October 2012.  

In 2008, Alongside the 60^th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights the ‘Elders’, led by Nelson Mandela, sent out a clarinet call proclaiming: “every HUMAN has RIGHTS.” Recalling Voltaire, who was asked “what should we do about human rights?” To which he answered: “Let the people know them…” --and having facilitated for the last 25 years the learning and integration of human rights as a way of life in more than 60 countries, I sent the Elders a note saying: “but do the ‘humans ’know them?  Most do not!” -- It is therefore an imperative to add to the Elders call, loud and clear: “and every human must learn, know them and own them as a way of life!” It is not enough to “have” human rights, it is essential that everyone owns them and be guided in their day to day life by the holistic human rights framework, enabling women and men to participate as equals in the decision making process towards meaningful, sustainable economic and social transformation. We have no other option!

Having met face to face with people living in hundreds of communities around the world, facilitating dialogue about human rights as a way of life, I choose not to engage in the discourse about diversity and/or intercultural dialogue and not even peace. I believe such discussions distract us from holding the necessary and essential conversations that can lead to the planning of meaningful ways and means to facilitate the learning of human rights as a way of life throughout the world. Such efforts, when implemented, will evoke a sense of ownership of human rights, put in the hands of the learner a powerful tool for positive action, enriching people’s ability to live with and within diverse cultures in trust and respect of the humanity of the other. This is not mere Utopia. As people pursue equal participation in the political decision making process, women and men alike, they join in weaving a new foundation of equality for all and the elimination all forms of discrimination -- basically what human rights is all about. Read more...