When you say the word “dignity” what do you have in mind? For me, as a Ukrainian, the answer comes at once – dignity and freedom is what drives Ukraine and Ukrainians to fight for the future they want for themselves.
“Peace, dignity and equality on a healthy planet” – is a universal motto of the United Nations Organizations. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a milestone document in the history of human rights. Drafted by representatives with different legal and cultural backgrounds from all regions of the world, the Declaration was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on 10 December 1948 as a common standard of achievements for all peoples and all nations. It set out, for the first time, fundamental human rights to be universally protected and it has been translated into over 500 languages.
And yet, more than 60 years after the declaration was proclaimed, numerous nations in the world keep fighting for their basic rights, even being “universally protected”. So what is wrong with this statement? And what can be done for human rights and dignity to be really protected? These questions need to be discussed to conduct to another world.
The Day of Dignity and Freedom is a national holiday in Ukraine, which is celebrated every year on Nov. 21 in honour of the beginning of two revolutions: the Orange Revolution in 2004 and the EuroMaidan Revolution, also known as the Revolution of Dignity, in 2013. The holiday pays respect to the patriotism and courage of citizens who stood up for the defence of democratic values, human rights, and freedoms, the national interests of Ukraine, and its choice to integrate with the European Union.
