By Matters India Reporter
New Delhi, November 22, 2018: The Indian unit of Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) on November 22 celebrated the 70th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
It launched a campaign “I’m Human, Right?” to commemorate the United Nations’ proclamation on December 10, 1948 in Paris that ushered in a ground-breaking understanding of the universality of human rights.
The campaign that took place at the India International Centre Annex, New Delhi urged both federal and state governments to uphold the right to life, to family and to religious freedom as was the original intent of the Universal Declaration.
The participants included several legal luminaries, social activists and reputed members of civil society. They reminded the government that as a signatory of the Universal Declaration and being the world’s largest democracy – India’s role in this campaign is vital and to reaffirm that human dignity is innate and that human rights cannot be given or taken away by the State or any other actor.
Rebecca M. John, a senior lawyer, speaking on human right violations in the Hashimpura massacre case said, “Make no mistake, by taking 31 years to punish the guilty, our justice system failed all of the victims, and each one of us.”
Tehmina Arora, ADF India director, expressed the hope their campaign will draw attention to the violations of basic fundamental freedom faced by religious minorities, especially Christians across the country.
“We encourage the fellow citizens to no longer be silent on these issues and ensure those who continue to violate fundamental human rights are held accountable,” she said.