The United Nations marked the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Vienna Declaration on International Human Rights Day on December 10, 2013. The Vienna Declaration was dedicated to committing states to the promotion, as well as protection of human rights for everyone, in addition to creating the post of U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Even though there are many things in life which can be taken for granted – including the chance to get an education – but the attack of Taliban on Malala Yousafzai, the teen activist was a lesson for the entire world in 2012. School is one of the human rights which cannot be taken for granted. Secretary-General of the U.N. Ban Ki-moon stated that there are about 57 million children across the globe who do not attend school.
The majority of children who do not go to school live in conflict zones and most of them are girls. He said, “No child should have to die for going to school. Nowhere should teachers fear to teach or children fear to learn”. The Vienna Declaration took into consideration issues like the right to an education, the eradication of poverty and the elimination of violence against women.
Ivan Simonovic, the U.N. Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights said that the 1993 declaration changed many things.
Photo Credits: UN
