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When it comes to human rights,
we sometimes forget
how much we owe to others.
The hundreds of thousands
of unsung heroes
known collectively
as human rights defenders.
They have changed history,
tackling injustice
and discrimination
wherever they found it.
Some of their names
will be known to you.
Emmeline Pankhurst,
Mahatma Gandhi,
Martin Luther King,
Nelson Mandela,
Rigoberta MenchĂș.
But the great majority
are unknown
to the world at large.
They range from
princes and politicians,
to women and men
from all walks of life.
Some rich, some poor,
some intellectuals,
others barely literate.
No formal qualifications
are required.
We can all be
human rights defenders.
And we all should be.
It just takes commitment
and courage.
Every year, thousands of
human rights defenders
are harrassed, abused,
unjustly jailed,
and murdered.
Often their families are
targeted as well.
That is why this year,
Human Rights Day is dedicated
to human rights defenders
and their magnificent battle
to stop discrimination.
We need to stand up
for their rights,
so they can continue
to stand up for ours.