Statement by Yabloko Bureau, 5.12.2018

The 10th of December 2018 is the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is the first document to state a list of inviolable human rights that were supported by almost all the countries of the world.

The declaration is the symbol of recognition of the values of every human life and equality of all people regardless of their origin, sex, social status and convictions. The adoption of a universal document like this is the symbol of maturity of the human society.

70 years on we witness that the undressing of the importance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in society is in decline, and the universal character of the values and rights inshrined in the declaration is being challenged. The reconsideration of the humans rights concept by the following generations, who did not witness the developments that preceded the adoption of the declaration, causes concern. It is vital for all the countries of the world to know and understand the importance of existence of fundamental human rights and to uphold them.

It is vital to analyse the historical developments, the consequence of the adoption and implementation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as well as the real essence of every right and freedom set out in the document. It is also vital to understand the possible consequences if some of the rights are eliminated or if certain exceptions are made. This is the essence of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that the values set forth in it are universal for all people on Earth without exceptions. This is the only way to decrease the number of wars and conflicts resulting in human losses, and to preserve the human kind.

The Yabloko party fully supports the right sand freedoms set out in the Declaration. We have always promoted and supported these values and we will continue doing it.

Yabloko Bureau considers it necessary that the party branches hold events dedicated to human right protection on the 10th December every yers, including:

1) Lectures by human rights defenders, heads on human rights NPOs and activists (including Yabloko members);

2) Round tables, seminars, debates with the participation of human rights groups;

3) Meetings with regional Ombudsmen and Ombudsmen for Children’s Rights, discussions of the reposts on the situation with human rights in the region released by Ombudsmen;

4) Shared charity projects and campaigns (including fundraising) together with social-oriented human rights groups in the region;

5) Promotion of materials on human rights (foe example, UN placards dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and hand-made placards), publications on the work of human rights groups on webpages of the party regional branches and on social networks;

6) Competition on placards, comics, caricatures;

7) Film screening and discussions;

8) Public actions dedicated to human rights issues.

Emilia Slabunova,
Yabloko Chair