The Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) and the 20-million strong Ukrainian diaspora join the global community in marking Human Rights Day on 10 December 2018.
This year, Human Rights Day marks the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a milestone document that proclaimed the inalienable rights to which everyone is inherently entitled as a human being, and establishes the equal dignity and worth of every person.
The principles and promise of the Declaration, however, continue to be challenged as some governments pursue greater power and autocratic control, violating fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens.
As a result of the illegal occupation of Crimea by the Russian Federation and its ongoing aggression in Eastern Ukraine, Ukrainians are among the people denied the right to live in dignity and freedom.
Over 70 Ukrainians continue to languish in Russian prisons on politically motivated charges, 24 sailors have been illegally imprisoned following the military attack on Ukrainian ships in neutral waters, over 100 hostages are being held by the Russian Federation on occupied Ukrainian territory, and the Russian invasion of Crimea has led to numerous gross violations of the fundamental human rights and freedoms of Ukrainians, Crimean Tatars, Jews and other residents, who publicly oppose the occupying authorities,
On this Human Rights Day, we pay tribute to all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom in Ukraine and elsewhere in the world.
We also honour all those standing bravely today in Ukraine and in other countries against tyrannical regimes, and the human rights activists who tirelessly remain the voices of the oppressed.
“As the world marks Human Rights Day, we vow to steadfastly support all individuals who suffer indignities daily and work to ensure that their stories are known, shared, and remain a priority on the international agenda,” stated UWC President Paul Grod.
