{"id":77074,"date":"2016-12-09T10:38:00","date_gmt":"2016-12-09T10:38:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?guid=d9d771e5e3f36ac2cb1dfdc5b43bab76"},"modified":"2016-12-09T10:38:00","modified_gmt":"2016-12-09T10:38:00","slug":"news-story-fco-celebrates-annual-human-rights-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?p=77074","title":{"rendered":"News story: FCO celebrates annual Human Rights Day"},"content":{"rendered":"

Updated:<\/em> Added translation<\/p>\n

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Saturday 10 December marks UN Human Rights Day, which commemorates the day on which the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.<\/p>\n

To mark this, the Foreign Office hosted an event attended by over 100 guests to focus on civil society and democracy \u2013 an important strand of the department\u2019s human rights work.<\/p>\n

Complementing the United Nation\u2019s chosen theme for this year of \u2018stand up for someone\u2019s rights today\u2019, the event emphasised the importance of a strong civil society and honoured the work of human rights defenders.<\/p>\n

It also underlined the importance of NGOs and wider civil society in promoting respect for human rights and in helping states to achieve long-term security and sustainable economic development.<\/p>\n

Baroness Anelay said:<\/p>\n

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All around the world people\u2019s human rights are under threat, so the role of civil society and human rights defenders has never been more important.<\/p>\n

A shrinking civil society harms a country\u2019s stability, economic prospects and wider social development. Providing space for civil society to operate is therefore crucial to the spread and strengthening of democracy all around the world.<\/p>\n

An active civil society is the hallmark of a mature society; one that is open to challenge and able to protect the rights of its citizens. Governments should not only allow but proactively nurture a healthy civil society. They should commend human rights defenders \u2013 not condemn them.<\/p>\n

This is the message that we will continue to promote both at home and abroad as we stand up for human rights.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Amarildo Fecanji – Executive Director LBGTI Equal Rights Association for Western Balkans and Turkey, Ruth Hunt – Chief Executive, Stonewall, William Gelling – High Commissioner to Rwanda, and Thomas Hughes – Executive Director, Article 19 also took part in a panel discussion at the event.<\/p>\n

Promoting human rights is integral to the purpose of all British diplomatic missions, as they work with international partners and organisations to promote safer, more inclusive, prosperous societies.<\/p>\n

Notes for editors<\/h3>\n