“Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for all” was the theme of the United Nations for International day of Human Rights 2022. The UN also announced that the theme was chosen to initiate a global campaign for a year since 2023 will be the 75th year of UDHR. To commemorate the International Human Rights Day, Indian Social Institute, Bengaluru (ISIB), South India Cell for Human Rights Education and Monitoring (SICHREM), Women’s Voice, Acharya College, Al-Ameen College, BIRDS, St. Joseph’s University-Bembala, Civic Bangalore, Don Bosco College, Fourth Wave Foundation, Karnataka State Disabled and Caregivers Federation, Mount Carmel College, Payana, PUCL Karnataka, Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, SAFAR, Samvidhanada Hadiyalli, Sarathya, St. Claret College, St. Joseph’s Institutions BEMBALA, St. Aloysius College, Swatantra, Smile Project, Gamana, CARE, Karnataka Yuva Dhwani, Ondede, Study Circle Group, Global Concerns India and a few like-minded organisations, colleges and individuals came together, developed a plan, and organised a 10-day event “Yuva Hakku: Bengaluru Youth for Diversity, Inclusion, and Human Rights” from 1-10 December in Bengaluru.
By coming together and celebrating the rights of one another, especially the marginalised communities, the youth of Bengaluru championed and celebrated Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for all. On 1 December, the 10-day celebration of Human Rights 2022 was inaugurated by Dr. Y S R Murthy, Founding Vice Chancellor of RV University, Bengaluru in Xavier Hall, St Joseph’s University, and the concluded event was organised on 10 December at the Indian Social Institute’s premises. Dr Aditya Sondhi, Senior Advocate and Former Additional Advocate General for Karnataka was present at the event.
The 10-day events included a WhatsApp campaign, logo for DP, talks/lectures/seminars, film screening, sanitary napkins distribution, street plays/skits, photography competition, journal writing competition, candlelight vigil, cloth wall writing, signature campaign, mime competition, debates, creativity competitions, and essay writing competition.
In this way, the youth of today and the leaders of tomorrow sowed the seeds for a better India and a better World.
Themes:
December 1: Youth for Dignity Freedom, and Justice for all: Youth for sustainable Health (Post-Covid-19) & World AIDS Day
December 2: Youth for Dalits, Adivasis and Religious Minority Rights (International Day for the Abolition of Slavery)
December 3: Youth for Persons with Disabilities: Inclusion, Access and Sustainable Development
December 4: Youth for Rights of Children and Adolescents: Right to Education, MHPSS (Mental Health and Psychosocial Support) and WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) and Sex Education
December 5: Youth for Dignity of Farmers and Migrant Labourers (Youth against Climate Change)
December 6: Youth for the rights of Urban Poor: Right to Food, Maternity benefits, Livelihood and Pension
December 7: Youth for Gender Equality: Rights of Women, Transgender and Sexual Minorities
December 8: Youth for Sadbhavana & Constitutional Democracy: Freedom of Religion, Right to dissent, Diversity of Cultures and Languages
December 9: Youth for Change: Citizens as Rights Holders and Employment as a Fundamental Right (International Anti-corruption Day)
December 10: Youth for Diversity, Inclusion and Human Rights Defenders (International Human Rights Day)
Francis Balaraj SJ