Indian Diaspora Council releases statement on observance of World Human Rights Day 2023

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The Indian Diaspora Council International (IDC), in collaboration with its global membership and affiliates, released a statement to observe the 75th anniversary of World Human Rights Day on December 10, 2023 stipulating universal values and a shared standard of achievement for everyone in every country.

Human Rights Day was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly which  the proclaimed Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10, 1948.

The IDC quoted several notable people in the Indian American and South Asian communities to emphasize the importance of Human Rights Day.

Those quoted include: Dr. Sudhir Parikh, chairman of Parikh World Wide Media/ITV Gold, New York, USA; Ashok Ramsaran, IDC, New York; Nicole Bissessar, who describes herself as a ‘Vaidic Economist’ on Linkedin; Sandew Hira, Secretary of the Decolonial International Network Foundation (The Netherlands); Jean Regis Ramsamy, PhD (Indian Diaspora Council, Reunion Island); and Sonya Rahaman, International Human Rights Lawyer (London, UK).

Dr. Parikh noted the history of Indians who migrated to other parts of the world including the Caribbean and US, and the hard life they faced, in a period when their human rights was not in the forefront. ” … the migration of Indians to the Caribbean close to 300 years ago was the product of British colonialism, while in the US, it started more than a hundred years ago, and really picked up in the 1960s with the passing of the Immigration Act,” Dr. Parikh noted.

Ashook Ramsaran said, “Denial of human rights at any level is an outright violation of fundamental, inalienable rights and freedoms including a right to education, a decent living, health care and a right to live free from any form of discrimination among others,” adding that Covid-19 had devastating effects on the world’s poor, plus the results of climate change, inequity in medical care, etc., making the poor and minority communities more vulnerable to attacks on their rights.

Vidur Dindyal (Author, London, UK), noted, “Seventy five 75) years ago the year of UDHR was a time which marked a sea change in the millennia history of mankind and the end of colonization of nearly half of the world’s population. This is progress of human civilization. We continue to progress, albeit slowly, in our relations with one another as humans. We all want to live with dignity and others want the same.”

Bissessar said, “In today’s world, where turmoil, wars, forced displacement, human rights abuses, and inequality prevail in many countries, it is crucial that we express our sentiments, suggestions, and recommendations towards addressing these pressing issues. Combined voices have the power to bring about change and create a better future for those who are suffering.”

All those who issued their statements emphasized the need to observe the values enshrined in the UDHR.