(Public Statement 21/2016 )
Issue Date: 28 November 2016
From the 1st of December 2016 to the 10th of December 2016 Matabeleland Institute for Human Rights is calling the people of Matabeleland to join the challenge to stand up for someone’s rights through easy and simple actions as part of the global 2016 Human Rights Day observance and commemorations.
International Human Rights Day is a United Nations observance day commemorated yearly the world over to raise awareness, consciousness and solidarity on human rights. The day is commemorated on the 10th of December annually in recognition of the day on which the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.
The 2016 Human Rights Day shall run under the theme: “stand up for someone’s rights today.” And the United Nations Secretary General Mr. Ban Ki-moon has urged all of us to “recommit to guaranteeing the fundamental freedoms and protecting the human rights of all.”
As Matabeleland Institute for Human Rights we encourage the people of Matabeleland to join the 10 Days Stand for Someone’s Rights Challenge. This challenge is aimed as raising awareness on human rights to the broader community, promoting human rights protection and solidarity.
Some easy actions that people can do as part of the challenge include:
- Tell and explain to someone or a group of people either in church, at school, at home, in class, at work, in a club or in your community about human rights and ways of reporting rights violations,
- Distribute copies if the Constitution of Zimbabwe or copies of the Bill of Rights to people,
- When you see someone’s rights being violated be it at home, school, work, in a khombi, in a shop or anywhere, stand up for that person’s rights and demand justice for the person,
- Write a letter (signed or anonymous), make a phone call or send a message to the shopowner, the Member of Parliament, the business management, the Councilor, the Headman, the Chief, the Officer in Charge of a Police Station, a government official or the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission complaining of a rights violation or reporting a rights violation or demanding that they also stand up for someone’s rights,
- Observe it that you do not violate other people’s rights during this time and encourage others to do the same,
- You (alone) or with a group of friends can stand together with your feet to each other and take a picture of your feet and post it to facebook, whatsapp or twitter with a hastag #Standup4HumanRights. You can also take a short video encouraging others to stand up for someone’s rights. Share with us your pictures and or videos on Twitter @MatHumanRights or on Email: mihroffice@gmail.com and or on Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/matabelelandinstituteforhumanrights/ or on our blogsite: matabelelandinstituteforhumanrights.wordpress.com
- Share this and other human rights information that will be circulating during the time with others.
We encourage people to share with us their stories of standing up for someone’s rights today in our various media platforms. Be part of the global community of those who STAND UP FOR SOMEONE’S RIGHTS as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Mr. Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein urged saying “It’s time for each of us to step up for human rights. There is no action that is too small: wherever you are, you can make a difference. Together, let’s take a stand for more humanity.”
Matabeleland Institute for Human Rights is an independent human rights watchdog that exists to enhance the use of peaceful actions to protect and promote human rights in the Matabeleland region of Zimbabwe.
Statement By:
The General Secretary
Matabeleland Institute for Human Rights
Mr Benedict Sibasa
Email: mihroffice@gmail.com
Twitter: @MatHumanRights
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/matabelelandinstituteforhumanrights/
Blog: matabelelandinstituteforhumanrights.wordpress.com
MATABELELAND INSTITUTE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS 
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