Today, on 10 December, 2020, EUAM Iraq joins the United Nations family in celebrating the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a UN landmark document that has been the key to peace and development in the world. It proclaims the inalienable rights which everyone is entitled to as a human being - regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.

This year's theme is ‘’Recover better -Stand Up for Human Rights". The message is one of hope and ambition, it goes out to everyone: "Let us recover from the dreadful C-19 pandemic, ensuring that human rights are central to recovery efforts, so we can build a better future!"

This past year has been extremely difficult for all of us, but the multiple crises which have hit the Iraqi people have exacerbated the hardship disproportionately, and we are not yet through it.

We fully underline the Human Rights Day theme and continue to support our counterparts in the Iraqi Ministry of Interior and the Office of the National Security Adviser in that spirit. Our common aim is to strengthen the Security Sector Reform process by placing Iraqi citizens at the heart of the considerations, fostering a more resilient and just Iraqi society. We also share the common goal of promoting participation. The voices of citizens, private companies, concerned individuals, including the most affected and vulnerable, be it through civil society organisations, grass-roots communities or directly, are imperative in the shaping of a better security sector. Participation without discrimination levels inequalities and promotes the human rights of all, opening the road to a full recovery and development.

With this, I would like to wish you a healthy Human Rights Day!

Christoph Buik

Head of Mission, EUAM Iraq

For more information:

https://www.un.org/en/observances/human-rights-day 

https://www.un.org/en/observances/human-rights-day/resources#campaignmaterials