CHRI: Demand accountability to realise human rights

The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI), Africa Office, has called on the citizenry to demand accountability from public officers towards the realisation of their human rights.
“The Initiative encourages Ghanaians to demand their human rights as guaranteed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR),” it said.

In a statement issued in Accra yesterday in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) on December 10, 2018, CHRI uses the occasion to celebrate successes and recommit to the principles outlined in the Declaration’s 30 Articles.

“Over the past 70 years, the Declaration has inspired liberation movements and led to better access to justice, social protections, economic opportunities and political participation.

“Wherever respect for its commitments has been present, the dignity of millions has been uplifted, suffering prevented and the foundations laid for a more just world and we need to keep pushing forward.”

“The establishment of relationship which exists between Human Rights and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and how Ghana and Africa at large can realise the goals shows African governments have a key role to play in realisation of Human Rights since corruption leads to violation of human rights obligation.”

“Even though the human rights movement has made great strides in the past seven decades however, abuses still occur with saddening regularity but the anniversary of the Declaration is an opportunity to celebrate successes, recommit ourselves to the principles outlined with its constant standards of equality, justice and human dignity.

“The goal addresses issues of human security and access to justice, corruption, transparency, accountability, discrimination and exclusion of marginalised groups from political and governance processes, human rights and fundamental freedoms,” the statement said.

It observed that corruption violated human rights obligation and there was the need to take steps to maximise available resources to achieve progressively full realisation of rights recognised in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and urged the government to stand up for human rights and take cognisance of some measures that could enhance transparency, accountability and contribute to sustainable, anti-corruption measures and fulfillment of benefits.

The statement said the adoption of laws that ensure public’s access to information on governmental processes, decisions and policies fundamental to realisation of human rights are institutional reforms which strengthen transparency and accountability. -3news.com

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