……………. had an interview but was turned down because he or she was the “wrong colour”.

…………….. suffers when his/her child tells him/her that he/she doesn’t want to go to school because he/she doesn’t have branded shoes or a branded bag like his/her classmates.

…………….. no longer attends work meetings because he or she is never allowed to speak.

Evenings out with colleagues, going to movie theatres, having lunch with friends, …………… He/She has neither the time nor the money to do so.

…………… Doesn’t dare to invite people to his or her place because he or she lives in a “stigmatised” area.

Did you ever see yourself putting your name on one of the blank spaces above because you’ve already been in one of these situations?

Have you ever felt that you are not completely free to enjoy your most basic rights in today’s society?

Now, imagine more dramatic scenes! Where the most fundamental right, the right to live, is violated. This is the story of…

……………. who was having fun with his/her friends when rockets attacks turned laughter into tears and cries of pain.

……………. who was enjoying a meal with his/her family when his/her house turned into a pile of ashes.

……………. Whose daily life looks like a horror movie straight out of Netflix.

What if we all take advantage of the Human Rights Day to raise awareness, to raise OUR awareness on the importance of…

• Not taking away an individual’s right to work because they are different.
• The right to education, the right to run around a playground, the right to make friends with other children, without focusing on appearances.
• Learning that there’s a time to talk, but also a time to listen.
• Taking the time out from work and the daily grind to relax. Alone or in a group.
• Not judging others based on where they live.
• Supporting causes, such as appeals for international humanitarian aid and solidarity.
• Freedom of expression. For democracy to take precedence over dictatorship.
• Exercising the right to vote. In memory of our ancestors who fought for it and for a better world, far from bombs, far from war.

On the 10^th of December 2023, we commemorate the Human Rights Day. A day that sounds a bit like a wake-up call. Yes, we all have rights. From the most basic to the most fundamental.

So, let’s take a moment to look at our lives, our lifestyles, and consider what could be done to bring a change, on a personal, societal and even political level.

Together, let’s be actors of change!