A human rights lawyer, Francis-Xavier Kojo Sosu says the greatest tragedy in Ghana today is not injustice but rather, the failure of the youth to rise up against injustice.
He added that many young people today have failed to boldly stand and speak against injustice in society and demand justice for others due to fear of intimidation and discrimination.
Lawyer stated this while delivering a keynote speech at a forum to mark the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights at the University of Education, Winneba.
Mr Sosu categorically mentioned that people often violated the rights of others because they failed to recognise the inherent value of human life and existence.
“If we in Ghana, particularly professionals such as teachers, police officers, judges, journalists can make a difference in the future of this nation, then we must stand for our own rights and the rights of others”. He said.
In the views of the astute lawyer, standing for human rights meant demanding provision of the welfare of women and children and demanding equality before the law without discrimination from the state and governments.
“Our human rights advocacy, promotion and protection must be devoid of political considerations because human rights violations know no political colour”. He explained.
He added that Ghana was so divided by politics and therefore challenged Ghanaians to be united by their common humanity and join forces to together to demand action and justice whenever the rights of others were violated.
A lecturer at the Centre for Conflict, Human Rights and Peace Studies at the University of Education, Dr Harrison Kwame Golo observed that human rights were intrinsic parts of daily existence of human kind.
This, notwithstanding, he mentioned that human rights were taken for granted on daily bases adding that “the reason is that for many people, human life can be sacrificed on the altar of their own whims and caprices”.
He further urged Ghanaians to demonstrate their commitment to the constitution by speaking out on the issues of responsibilities as much as they do on rights.
“Failure to do so will only undermine the tireless efforts and selfless sacrifices made by many human activities and freedom fighters who fought until the last drop of their blood to make sure we are free today”. He added.
The forum was organised by the Centre for Human Rights and Peace Studies CHRAPS in collaboration with Youth for Human Rights Africa YoHRA and it was under the distinguished chairmanship of the Vice Chancellor of the UEW, Prof Rev Fr Anthony Afful-Broni.
Pupils from some basic schools as well as students from some selected Senior High Schools and others from the Centre for Human Rights and Peace Studies CHRAPS, UEW participated in the event.
The world, on Monday, marked the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on the theme: “Stand up for Human Rights”.
On 10th December 1948, the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which was drafted by the UN’s Human Rights Commission under the chairmanship of Eleanor Roosevelt, a Human Rights activist.
The declaration became the landmark demonstration of the international community’s vow never to allow atrocities such as those of the second World War to happen again.
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