By: Moaz Nasir

TWA

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UNITED KINGDOM - Cllr Altaf Khan, former Lord Mayor and Sheriff of Oxford, UK, commemorates Human Rights Day on December 10 by shedding light on the origin of the Human Rights Charter

The historic moment unfolded at the University of Oxford's Wadham College, where 16 liberal-thinking leaders presented the Human Rights Charter on the main ground quarter stairs. This significant document was later accepted and recognized by The United Nations.Founded in 1610 by Dorothy Wadham, Wadham College stands as one of the largest in Oxford, hosting 250 graduate students and 450 undergraduates.

In the decades following the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in 1948, human rights have gained increased recognition and global guarantees.

The UDHR has laid the groundwork for an expanding human rights protection system, extending its focus to vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, and migrants.

Despite these advancements, the principles of dignity and equality in rights, promised by the UDHR, face sustained challenges in recent years.

As the world grapples with new and persistent challenges such as pandemics, conflicts, escalating inequalities, a morally compromised global financial system, racism, and climate change, the values and rights outlined in the UDHR serve as guiding principles for collective action, ensuring that no one is left behind.