With the Omoyele Sowore’s case, a Nigerian activist, the publisher of US-based Sahara Reporters News site, and former presidential candidate whose detention and re-arrest alongside a few others leaves the country in a state of dire intervention, we cannot but question the viability of our human rights. The pervasive corruption and impunity among those with whom we have vested power to govern us, has allowed for a continuous menace of poverty and violation of human rights.

It is no news that the time is now for us to stand up not only for our rights, but the rights of others. We can daily fight for our rights in every little way, thereby promoting a global community. On the accounts of marginalization, stigmatization, and discrimination, the onus is on us (you and I) to defend the lives of others for them to enjoy their freedom to the core.

On a yearly basis, December 10 remains a day to observe the Human Rights Day across the globe as adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948 under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Upholding your rights and those of others is not a day in a year activity, rather, it is an everyday process.

“Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places, close to home — so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any maps of the world. […] Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere. Without concerted citizen action to uphold them close to home, we shall look in vain for progress in the larger world.” — Eleanor Roosevelt

It is time to work together as humans who see beyond gender, cultural, and racial differences, to promote a universal socially just society. Interestingly, when the right of an individual is denied and you do nothing about it, be certain you could be the next victim.

Educate yourself, know your rights, stand for your rights.

Let your voice be heard, your voice is you, your voice is your future.

You can be heard, you should be heard, you must be heard.

Below is a list of some of our human rights. Better known now than never.

Article 1	Right to Equality
Article 2	Freedom from Discrimination
Article 3	Right to Life, Liberty, Personal Security
Article 4	Freedom from Slavery
Article 5	Freedom from Torture and Degrading Treatment
Article 6	Right to Recognition as a Person before the Law
Article 7	Right to Equality before the Law
Article 8	Right to Remedy by Competent Tribunal
Article 9	Freedom from Arbitrary Arrest and Exile
Article 10	Right to Fair Public Hearing
Article 11	Right to be Considered Innocent until Proven Guilty
Article 12	Freedom from Interference with Privacy, Family, Home and Correspondence
Article 13	Right to Free Movement in and out of the Country
Article 14	Right to Asylum in other Countries from Persecution
Article 15	Right to a Nationality and the Freedom to Change It
Article 16	Right to Marriage and Family
Article 17	Right to Own Property
Article 18	Freedom of Belief and Religion
Article 19	Freedom of Opinion and Information
Article 20	Right of Peaceful Assembly and Association
Article 21	Right to Participate in Government and in Free Elections
Article 22	Right to Social Security
Article 23	Right to Desirable Work and to Join Trade Unions
Article 24	Right to Rest and Leisure
Article 25	Right to Adequate Living Standard
Article 26	Right to Education
Article 27	Right to Participate in the Cultural Life of Community
Article 28	Right to a Social Order that Articulates this Document
Article 29	Community Duties Essential to Free and Full Development
Article 30	Freedom from State or Personal Interference in the above Rights

Source of the above table: http://hrlibrary.umn.edu/edumat/hreduseries/hereandnow/Part-5/8_udhr-abbr.htm

Happy Human Rights Day