December 10, 2013: a day dedicated for World Human Rights
On this year’s World Human Rights Day, FIAN follows the multiple activities and advocacy work promoting the human right to adequate food
As the world commemorates 65 years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and 20 years after the Vienna World Conference on Human Rights reinforced the interdependence of human rights, FIAN commemorates World Human Rights Day today all around the world.
Succeeding a two-month international campaign calling for supporters to sign the petition to the Brazilian government to defend the right to territory of indigenous and traditional peoples in this country, FIAN Brazil has handed over to the authorities a list of the signatures collected worldwide as of today. With this petition, FIAN has specifically demanded the Brazilian authorities not to approve proposed legislations that further undermine basic human rights for Indigenous Peoples, and instead to guarantee the right to territory of indigenous people and traditional communities in accordance with the current land titling policy. The petition is still open to be signed at FIAN’s website.
On the occasion, FIAN Ecuador launched yesterday the “Monitoring Report on Land Policies and the Right to Food in Ecuador 2013”, which includes an overview of the current process of land accumulation in this country and specific recommendations to public officials for them to be able to comply with their Human Rights obligations and voluntary commitment enshrined in the Voluntary Guidelines on Land Tenure for member states of the FAO.
In parallel, the Optional Protocol for the International Covenant of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (OP-ICESCR) also celebrates today the fifth anniversary of its adoption as a remedy for individuals and groups of people to fight the violations of their economic, social and cultural rights at the international level. FIAN, as part of the OP-ICESCR Coalition, is inviting everyone to send letters to their local authorities, schedule meetings with officials or take actions to speed up the ratification process of countries that have not ratified yet.
A Solidarity Candle lightning for survivors/victims of Natural Disasters, Conflicts and Human Rights Violations is organized in the Philippines today. Under the slogan “TAO MUNA! LIGHT UP 4 YOLANDA VICTIMS, LIGHT UP 4 RIGHTS”, FIAN Philippines will be joining public actions organized by the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA), including a forum on human rights, development and climate change.
Nevertheless, FIAN continues supporting the adoption and effective implementation of laws, policies and programs to respect, protect and fulfill women’s rights to land and other productive resources, as a 16-day campaign to call for the elimination of all forms of violence against women ends today. This campaign, which started on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on November 25, was organized by the First Women’s Global Leadership with the purpose to symbolically link violence against women and human rights and to emphasize that such violence is a violation of human rights.
FIAN hopes that peoples all over the world join the International Human Rights Day celebrations in their communities by promoting and protecting the human right to food as it has been declared under the OP-ICESCR. Follow other Human Rights Day events at FIAN’s facebook and twitter, and please do not hesitate to share with us stories and pictures of the celebration in your community!