Dear friends,

Seventy-seven years ago today, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights became the first global statement that every person – regardless of nationality, background, belief or other status – deserves fundamental freedoms.

This document was born from humanity’s darkest hours. After witnessing the horrors of World War Two, the world understood that it could not rely on goodwill alone to protect human life, equity and liberty.

Its principles continue to underpin global standards of dignity and equality that guide laws, inspire social progress, and help protect peace. At their core, human rights protect what it means to be human. As Nelson Mandela, founder of The Elders, said: ‘to deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity’.

But we are now in a troubling era of growing geopolitical division and disregard for international law, as conflicts intensify, multilateral institutions weaken, and the norms that once provided protection and restraint are routinely challenged or ignored. Human rights are being eroded, leaving communities increasingly vulnerable to conflict and discrimination.

Parallels with the 1930s can certainly be drawn, as we see rising ultranationalism, unchecked aggression, and a resurgence of antisemitism, anti-Muslim bigotry and other forms of racism and xenophobia. The genocide and human-made famine witnessed in Gaza, following the atrocities in Israel more than two years ago, reflect the same kind of dehumanisation and racist ideologies that paved the way for the horrors of that era.  The systematic violence against women and girls across today’s conflicts – from Sudan to Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, and Myanmar – also reveals the depths of misogyny and discrimination that persist today. 

While the world vowed ‘never again’ after the Holocaust, that commitment has often gone unfulfilled. These are contemporary tragedies that escape accountability, enabled by silence and denial. The complicity and inaction of governments demand to be challenged.

Post-war reconciliation demonstrated that lasting peace requires accountability, rights-based solutions and rebuilding trust – not vengeance. Today, as the world confronts overlapping existential threats – from the climate and nature crises to pandemics, nuclear weapons, and the dangers of unchecked AI – these lessons remain critical. International law and human rights must be at the centre of any meaningful global response.

‘Everyday Essentials’ is the official theme for this year’s Human Rights Day. It is an important reminder that human rights shape our everyday lives, often in ways we do not realise. Many of us take human rights for granted, as something that will simply endure without our vigilance. Having dedicated my career to defending human rights, advancing the rule of law, and standing with those whose voices are silenced by injustice, I know all too well that we cannot afford to treat them that way.

We must not forget that universal rights and freedoms can never be embodied and protected by declarations alone. It is people who embody and breathe life into human rights. It is people and their leaders who bridge the gap between lofty human rights agreements and the situation on the ground. Without these people, the Declaration amounts to nothing more than a hollow commitment.

We must not only dream of a more just world but have the courage to fight for it.

This resilience creates results.

With thanks for your ongoing support,

Hina Jilani