Today is a human rights day. In 1950 the General Assembly invited all states and interested organizations to declare 10 December as Human Rights Day (resolution 423 (V)). The Day marks the anniversary of the Assembly's adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights enshrines those rights that are fundamentally inalienable to all of us as human beings, and ??the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.? All states, which are signatories, are duty bound to ensure the effective and full respect of these fundamental rights.

In Eritrea today gross violation of human rights is commonplace, and has remained unabated. Although Eritrea has signed or acceded to all human rights conventions, for all practical things the government pays deaf ear to the letter and spirit of the conventions. In fact it is practically impossible for human rights to be safeguarded in Eritrea where the Constitution (ratified in 1997) is indefinitely waiting for its implementation. The Constitution is the supreme law of the country and provides the best mechanisms that are crucial for a democratic system and full respect of human rights. What we have in Eritrea is ?rule of man? instead of ?rule of law?, and this is at the core of the reason why we are witnessing gross violation of human rights in the country.

What reminder does this Day hold for us as Eritreans? This Day reminds us of the gloom status of human rights issues in our motherland. It also reminds us of what we should be up to and what is expected of us to secure respect for human rights. In the fight against human rights violations it is highly significant that citizens come to increase their awareness and consciousness about their rights. Alertness in regard to civic and human rights has to lay a hand on each and every citizen. We have to figure out as to which is which and stand firm defending for our rights. It is only then that we can delimit the line between right and duty in our citizenry. Wherever we are we should not let our rights fall into the mercy of those who are in power who abuse them at their disposal for an indefinite period of time. It is high time that we should stand for our rights until the day we settle down in a democratic Eritrea that ensures full respect for human rights!