✒️:. Adv. Ghazi Rahil Banday
Human Rights Day, observed globally on 10 December, serves as a powerful reminder of the principles set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in 1948. At its heart lies a simple but transformative idea: every human being deserves dignity, equality and the right to be heard. Yet, in many parts of the world — and even within our own communities — countless people remain unheard. On this Human Rights Day, the message demands renewed attention: every soul deserves a voice.
Despite progress, barriers to expression persist in many forms. Poverty prevents individuals from asserting their rights; discrimination silences entire communities; gender-based violence forces women and girls into fear; and social stigma keeps vulnerable groups isolated. In conflict-affected regions, political instability and censorship further restrict the space for people to speak freely. The gap between what human rights promise and what many actually experience remains wide.
A voice is more than the ability to speak. It is the right to participate in decisions that shape one’s life. It is the confidence to report injustice. It is the freedom to express identity, beliefs, and aspirations. When a person is denied this voice, they are denied agency. And when communities remain voiceless, society loses the opportunity to progress.
Across the world, we continue to witness the consequences of this silence. According to the UN, millions still face discrimination based on gender, caste, ethnicity, religion, disability or socioeconomic background. In many developing regions, children are unable to report abuse, workers lack the means to resist exploitation, and refugees struggle to speak out against mistreatment. These silences are not accidental — they stem from systems that prioritise power over people.
Human Rights Day reinforces the need to break these systems of silence. Ensuring that “every soul deserves a voice” requires more than sympathy; it requires structural change. Governments must strengthen legal protections, uphold freedom of expression, and ensure accessible platforms for public participation. Institutions must operate with transparency and accountability. Schools, workplaces, and communities must actively promote equality and respect for all voices — especially those traditionally marginalised.
Representation is an essential part of this journey. A society becomes more just when women participate equally in decision-making, when minorities are represented in public institutions, and when young people are given opportunities to contribute. When diverse voices are included, governance becomes more ethical, communities become more resilient, and democracy becomes stronger.
Human Rights Day is not just a commemoration of the past but a call to action for the present. The responsibility to amplify unheard voices does not lie solely with governments or international bodies. It lies with every citizen. Speaking against discrimination, supporting the vulnerable, questioning injustice, and ensuring dignity for all — these are everyday acts that strengthen human rights.
A just society is not measured by the volume of the powerful but by the protection of the powerless. Silence imposed by fear or inequality is not peace; it is a warning. Peace is when individuals can express themselves without fear. Justice is when every voice matters equally. Progress is when no one is left behind.
As we mark Human Rights Day, we are reminded that human rights are universal not because every life is identical, but because every life holds equal worth. Each person carries a story that deserves recognition, a struggle that deserves empathy, and a dream that deserves space to grow.
A world where every soul has a voice is not only a human rights ideal — it is a human necessity. And it begins with listening.
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