New York, As the world marks the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Education Cannot Wait Executive Director Yasmine Sherif emphasizes the urgent need to reflect on the declaration’s meaning and its role in achieving global peace. Human Rights Day serves as a reminder of the declaration’s significance and the ongoing challenges in realizing its vision.

According to UNICEF, Sherif highlights the preamble of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a testament to the highest human values. The document, crafted with input from diverse global perspectives, including the influential roles of Eleanor Roosevelt and French jurist Rene Cassin, was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948. It represents a consensus not on the lowest common denominator but on the aspirational goals of peace, freedom, justice, and equality.

However, Sherif notes, nearly a century later, the universal rights outlined in the declaration are not fully respected or equally applied. The neglect and erosion of these values have led to increasing wars, conflicts, and injustices, resulting in widespread human suffering, refugees, and internal displacement.

Sherif argues that this preventable suffering stems from a departure from our highest human values, influenced by decisions that undermine the foundation of peaceful co-existence. The statement questions the extent to which freedom, equality, and justice have been compromised and disregarded.

The path to peace, Sherif is embedded in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Central to this is the right to an inclusive, sustainable, and quality education, which empowers individuals to claim all other rights. Success in realizing these rights is further enhanced when children and adolescents live in environments conducive to the fulfillment of all human rights, benefiting not just themselves but also their families, communities, and countries.

Sherif calls for courageous decisions and meaningful action in every role individuals play, urging the materialization of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for all members of the human family. She invokes the spirit of Eleanor Roosevelt, co-author of the Declaration, emphasizing the need for action guided by conscience to prevent human misery rather than merely responding to it.