The United Nations marks the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on 10 December by organising a high-level event named Human Rights 75. The occasion unfolds amid a critical and sensitive international context where the aggression of the occupying power (Israel) against the Gaza Strip casts a shadow over the human rights landscape and global peace and security.
The General Secretariat of the League of Arab States raises a poignant question: When can we celebrate the preservation of the right to life and the attainment of dignity and equality for all, rather than merely commemorating milestones? When can we rejoice in the absence of discrimination and apartheid or the realisation of justice and peace?
No commemoration can be meaningful while some choose to remain silent about the injustices committed by the Israeli occupation against the people of Palestine. It is impossible to celebrate any achievement as long as there are those who continue to lend support to these reprehensible crimes.
History indelibly records the stance of those who neglect to defend the rights of the Palestinian people and deny the fundamental principles of human rights on its dark pages.
Hence, the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States urges the international community to reconsider such celebrations and advocate for more impactful measures that bring about an end to the double standards in implementing human rights principles for the people of Palestine.
When we juxtapose the significance of the number 75 with the unfolding events in Gaza, a stark reality emerges. In the initial hours of the Israeli aggression, the count of Palestinian civilian casualties surpassed 10 times the figure 75, escalating to 100 times within the first month and a staggering 200 times by the end of the second month. It prompts reflection on the plight of steadfast Palestinian women amidst the 16-day campaign to combat violence against women. Regrettably, the statistics are alarming, with women and children among the victims exceeding 100 times the number 75. Astonishingly, the brutal Israeli aggression did not even span 75 days.
This is the lens through which the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States perceives the number 75. It is a stark reminder of the 75 years that have elapsed since the commencement of the Israeli occupation of the land of Palestine, offering a sobering perspective on how the international community observes this milestone.
