Calling on everyone to stand up for human rights

Human rights are under pressure. This means that the rights we take for granted in Norway are being violated in many other countries, and to a greater extent than before. People living in countries afflicted by war and conflict are particularly vulnerable, but this also applies for peaceful countries.

“Our global world is in the throes of a fundamental value struggle. A struggle in which basic rights are at stake. I’m thinking about extremists who murder innocent people, journalists who are threatened and jailed for doing their job, people in the LGBTI community who live in fear and 263 million children who have been robbed of the right to an education. I’m thinking about an increasing number of people, more than 65 million, who have been forced to leave their homes due to human conflict, violence and abuse. And I’m thinking about hate speech spreading online and through society,” says Minister of Foreign Affairs Børge Brende.

Norway works to promote human rights internationally through the UN, regional organisations, civil society organisations and through dialogue with individual countries. The most important contribution is that provided by each and every one of us, all around the world. Norway supports the theme of this year’s Human Rights Day, which encourages each of us to stand up for human rights.

“You and I have a joint responsibility to protect our common rights, and stand up for humane values. We must speak up and take a stand when injustice is committed, when our fellow human beings are victims of abuse and hate speech, and when rights we may have taken for granted, such as life and health, are at stake. This is the only way we can preserve our common dignity and develop good societies that everyone can live in,” says the Minister of Foreign Affairs.