Human Rights Day
10.12.2021 / 12:58 | Aktualizováno: 28.01.2025 / 12:20
On 10 December, every year, we commemorate the international Human Rights Day as we mark the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The objective of the declaration was to ensure universal recognition and preservation of human rights and fundamental freedoms. As every year, it is an opportunity to evaluate the fulfilment of these commitments and to express political support to the solution of human rights issues. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs thanks all those who are dedicated to the protection of human rights around the world despite the difficult circumstances during the pandemic.
The human rights situation around the world unfortunately continues to worsen even during the ongoing pandemic. Representatives of civil society, human rights defenders and independent journalists have to face escalating attacks in many countries, also in relation to their activities and sharing of information about the pandemic. In Belarus, Myanmar, Cuba and other countries, we are witnessing brutal use of force against peaceful protestors, mass arrests, arbitrary detention and torture.
The first Summit for Democracy takes place symbolically on Human Rights Day this year. This US initiative is an opportunity to galvanize political will to improve the human rights situation in the world. Czechia participates in the Summit and will actively engage in the follow-up throughout next year, including during the Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU.
As in previous years, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will organise a meeting on 10 December with foreign human rights defenders living in Czechia. Acting Deputy Minister David Konecký will assure them of the Czech support for their work and of the high importance of their active participation in public affairs. This is a symbolic reminder of the legendary breakfast held by French president Mitterrand with eight human rights defenders in then communist Czechoslovakia in 1988.
The Embassy of the Czech Republic in Helsinki will organize a round table on the status and role of national minorities on 15 December with representative of the Ministry of Justice of Finland and representatives of Sámi, Roma and Somali minorities in Finland. In cooperation with the organization Nytkis (Coalition of Finnish Women’s Association), the Embassy opened this year an exhibition called ‘Czech and Finnish Heroines Past and Present’ dedicated to women that were and are, among other things, human rights supporters and activists.