HUMAN RIGHTS 365. This is the theme which this year marks the International Human Rights Day. The fundamental postulates on which the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is based, point to the fact that freedoms and rights are given to everyone, everywhere in the world, in every time and place. The joint values should be shared by everyone without reservations, limitations and obstacles. Only like that we could succeed to be equal to each other and to enjoy the freedoms and rights.

Today when we celebrate the International Human Rights Day its slogan reminds us that each single day we should strive for its practical implementation in accordance to the highest human rights standards.

The unsatisfied citizens who visit the Ombudsman Office on a daily basis, the marginalized and vulnerable groups, the citizens who every day face the question of their own survival, perceive the human rights as something abstract and far from their everyday reality.

This day should be an occasion to think of these citizens whose right to free life is denied, to children and their right to warm home, to women, old persons, persons who need assistance and support and to those who do not have food and access to clean water. The news about the wars, about the refugees and those who leave their homes only to save their bare lives and to wander around the world, only confirm that not everywhere and not everyone enjoy the human rights.

This equally worry us, the human rights defenders, who on this particular day should be among the loudest in support to the slogan HUMAN RIGHTS 365. 

This year 10th of December is also a jubilee, 30 years from the adoption of the Convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. This is another occasion to send a message to all state bodies and other stakeholders in the society to fully implement and respect the provisions from this Convention for the simple reason that everyone, even those who are deprived of liberty, deserve a human treatment and respect of their dignity. Only the humanity is a human virtue. We should all show it and unselfishly strive for equal rights and access to all citizens without discrimination.