Background
The International Human Rights Day is commemorated every year on 10th December to mark the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) by all nations of the world in 1948.This year marks the 61st anniversary of the UDHR.  The day is marked by all nations of the world as a sign of re-dedication to the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). 

Uganda has joined the rest of the world in commemorating this important milestone and the Uganda Human Rights Commission, the Human Rights Network(Uganda) and other human rights organizations in the country are spearheading this noble cause this year, under the theme  ‘Embrace diversity, end discrimination in Uganda.’
 
Activities lined up for the week to commemorate the International Human Rights Day are intended to raise public awareness about this important day and about the theme whose emphasis in non discrimination. A public procession to be held on Saturday 5th December 2009 will draw participants from human rights organizations in the country, government officials and development partners; a Human Rights Exhibition that will start on Monday 7th to Wednesday 9th 2009 will provide a forum for human rights organizations to interface with the public and show– case their contribution to the human rights cause.  The visit to Luzira Women’s Prison on Wednesday 9th December 2009 will be an out -reach activity aimed at assessing the condition of inmates and recommending for action where necessary. The week will be crowned with a Human Rights Gala that will take place on Thursday 10th December 2009, which is the International Human Rights Day.

The Principle of Non Discrimination
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights that we are commemorating this week, provides for the acceptable standards of human rights that have been adopted in various international human rights treaties and conventions. Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) provides that everyone is born equal and free in dignity and rights. Article 2 states that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, birth or other status. The principle of non-discrimination is a cross-cutting issue in all the international Conventions and Treaties as is evident in the Convention on the rights of the child, rights of people with disabilities, rights of refugees and of migrant workers; conventions dedicated to the elimination of racial discrimination and discrimination against women, as well as treaties dealing with labour, health and religion, among others.

Role of the Government of Uganda 
We note that the government has ratified a number of international conventions and treaties and has gone further to incorporate most of the provisions on non-discrimination in the national Constitution of 1995 under Chapter 4 Article 21. Government has also enacted a number of laws in line with the people’s aspirations to promote equality and fight discrimination. These include laws such as the Equal Opportunities Act of 2007 and established an the Equal Opportunities Commission as well as the establishment of the Uganda Human Rights Commission, as some of the measures that promote equality and dignity for its people.

Efforts by government through legislation and policies that cater for the interests of women, children, HIV/Aids, People with disabilities, among many others, is a move in the right direction in the fight against discrimination in the country.  Programmes such as universal primary and post-primary education are lauded because their objective is embedded in the promotion of equal access to opportunities for the citizenry. Government has also accorded a conducive environment for civil society organizations to operate freely and to carry out advocacy work especially in the area of promoting human rights in general and non-discrimination in particular.

However, whereas government has put in place a number of programmes that promote non-discrimination in Uganda, challenges still remain in a number of areas. There is need for government to improve facilities and opportunities for people with disabilities, people living with HIV/Aids, the elderly, the minority tribes such as the Batwa and Bennets and many other sections of the population who have unique needs. The management and implementation of government programmes such as UPE, USE, primary health care and many others that target the entire population should be effectively and efficiently carried out in order for such services to be accessed by all.

Recommendations
As we launch activities to mark the International Human Rights Week, Uganda Human Rights Commission in partnership with human rights civil society organizations under the framework of HURINET (U), would like to recommend the following:

   1. That the government of Uganda should fully integrate the concept of the Human Rights   ased   Approach (HRBA) to development in all its policies and plans by subjecting them to a human rights audit. This will ensure mainstreaming of human rights in general and the principles of equality and non discrimination in all government planning and programming processes.
2. Carry out mass sensitization on the principle of non discrimination and equal rights among government officials such as health workers, prison and police officials, schools, investors, and the general public
3. Government should put in place policies and progressively improve the infrastructure to cater for the vulnerable members of the society such as the provision of ramps and elevators in buildings to cater for persons with disabilities, increase availability of Braille services and number of schools for the deaf and blind, among others.
4. Government should review some of the laws and widely consult  on them with a view to eliminating their potential to promote discrimination among the people
5. Members of the public should be at the fore front of promoting the principle of non discrimination as it is at the heart of social interaction and therefore touches each one of us in one way or another.

Conclusion
In marking this year’s International Human Rights Day, it is our appeal as human rights organizations to all the people of Uganda to reflect on the fact that non-discrimination is the foundation of human rights, both here in Uganda and the world over. It is also necessary for us as a country to strive to promote equal access to services, opportunities and treatment for all people and to realize that when we all embrace diversity, we enrich and strengthen our societies in the process. Our message as human rights promoters and defenders as we commemorate this year’s International Human Rights Day is to urge all of us to hold the banner of ensuring the promotion of the principle of diversity and to commit ourselves to end discrimination in our country.