Czech Human Rights Minister to thank Govt advisory bodies on Int'l Human Rights Day

On the occasion of International Human Rights Day tomorrow, 10 December, Czech Minister for Human Rights, Equal Opportunities and Legislation Jiří Dienstbier, who is also a serving Senator, will meet in the Czech Senate with representatives of the Government's advisory bodies on human rights topics, most of which he chairs in his role as minister. He wants to thank the civil society members of these bodies for their work to date and discuss what they have achieved, what remains to be done, what the prospects are for the future, etc.

"The Government, in its program declaration, directly pledged to strive for a high standard of human rights protection and to consider the equality and freedom of every person, in terms of dignity and rights, not just as a formal principle, but as an obligation to create conditions for the dignified, full-fledged life of all people in the Czech Republic, including members of all kinds of minorities and any individuals who are disadvantaged or vulnerable, and I consider it essential that we do our best to see that the Government keeps its promise in this regard, even when it isn't easy," said Dienstbier.  "I would also be glad if the attitude toward human rights here would change, in the sense that the broader public would embrace it. The right to a dignified life, the right of a patient to information, the right of the handicapped to equal treatment, equality between women and men, etc. ... might at some point concern each and every one of us," Dienstbier said, pointing out that he wants to place a comparable emphasis not just on civil and political rights, but also on economic, social and cultural rights.

International Human Rights Day is celebrated every year worldwide on 10 December to honor the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the UN General Assembly in 1948. The day was established on 4 December 1950 at the 317th plenary session of the UN General Assembly.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is the first international document to establish a catalog of fundamental rights and freedoms. It is the first legally universal recognition of the fundamental freedoms and rights of every human being irrespective of cultural and religious roots, race, sex, or place of origin, and is the basis for all other international documents on human rights protecting life and respect for the individual and protecting of humanity from injustice.

International Human Rights Day is meant to remind us that there are still countries where human rights are not upheld and where we still encounter discrimination, oppression, and differentiation between women and men and between members of different races, lack of freedom of speech, etc. Various events are held worldwide on 10 December in support of human rights.