Understanding the right to education.

On the occasion of 2023 Human Rights Day commemoration in Samoa under the theme “revitalizing human rights awareness with a focus on the right to education”

Thursday, 7 December 2023 at Lava Hotel, Apia

• Rev. Elder Utufua Naseri
• Acting Ombudsman, Maualaivao Pepe Seiuli
• Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture, Aeau Christopher Peter Hazelman
• Excellencies and members of the Diplomatic Corp
• Members of the Advisory Council to the National Human Rights Institution
• Founding member and Project Officer for the Deaf Association of Samoa, Maselina Iuta
• Representatives of Civil Society Organisations
• My colleagues from the United Nations
• Ladies and gentlemen

Talofa lava, and a very good morning to you all.

I am delighted to join you today on behalf of the United Nations system for this important event which is part of the activities in Samoa to mark the 2023 Human Rights Day which is on Sunday 10 December. The United Nations takes immense pride in partnering with the Office of the Ombudsman in organizing this important event. Since 2013, the Office of the Ombudsman has played a pivotal role not only in its traditional capacity but also as an independent National Human Rights Institution, dedicated to championing and safeguarding the human rights of every individual in Samoa.

Seventy-five years ago, on 10 December, 1948, the nations of the world came together to declare that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. So, as we celebrate the 2023 Human Right Day, we are also marking the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).

Through its 30 articles, the UDHR underscores the fundamental human rights that all governments must guarantee for all, from justice and freedoms such as freedom of religion, expression, and movement, freedom from torture and violence and adequate standards of health, food, housing, employment, and education.

Today, we are witnessing conflicts in many parts of the world with women and children bearing the brunt of the violence and suffering; climate change that is threatening all of humanity, but especially Pacific Islanders like Samoans; and political divisions among governments which hinder effective international responses to these crises.

This underscores the continued relevance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, proving that its principles are as crucial today as they were 75 years ago.

It is a sobering reminder that we cannot take our human rights for granted, and that these crises result from human rights not being respected, implemented, or prioritized. We need a renewed commitment by all States to act in line with international law and the agreements which they themselves have crafted, and to jointly work to advance the common good.

Throughout the year, the United Nations has been encouraging States to make pledges for meaningful human rights action. I am delighted that the government of Samoa will be submitting its pledge in Geneva during the High-Level “Human Rights 75” event on 11 December, and we look forward to supporting the government to implement the pledge.

The theme chosen by the Office of the Ombudsman to commemorate the 2023 Human Rights Day, the right to education, is important and suitable. Article 26 of the Declaration emphasizes the importance of accessible education for all, promoting the full development of the human personality and fostering respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and to promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations and peoples.

To help us appreciate this year’s theme, as part of our program today, there will be an announcement of the winners of the TikTok and poetry competition to explain what the right to education means to them. I congratulate the winners and thank everyone who participated in the competition.

While the primary responsibility to ensure the enjoyment of human rights rests with the government, we all have a role to play in promoting and protecting human rights.

I want to share a quote by Eleanor Roosevelt, who was the Chair of the United Nations Commission which drafted the Declaration, who said:

“Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places, close to home – so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any maps of the world. Yet they are the world of the individual person; the neighborhood he (or she) lives in; the school or college he (or she) attends; the factory, farm, or office where he (or she) works. Such are the places where every man, woman, and child seeks equal justice, equal opportunity, equal dignity without discrimination. Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere. Without concerted citizen action to uphold them close to home, we shall look in vain for progress in the larger world.”

I would therefore like to remind us that human rights start with us, and through small actions that we can take every day, which will have a ripple effect elsewhere. I am particularly encouraged to see individuals, especially children, young people and women in Samoa, who stand up for justice, equality and freedom not only in Samoa but also beyond.

Let us leverage the Samoan cultural heritage, the Fa'asamoa, which teaches us the values of respect, compassion, and justice. It is through these values that we can create a society where every individual's rights are protected and upheld.

However, challenges persist, and we must address them collectively under government’s leadership. We are still in the period for 16 Days of Activism Campaign against gender-based violence and I want to use this opportunity to highlight the challenge of GBV which continues to have devasting impacts especially on the lives of women, girls, and children in Samoa. Let us remember that women’s rights are human rights.

It is our shared responsibility to dismantle the barriers that hinder the full enjoyment of human rights for all and I call upon you and all stakeholders to be part of the champions for human rights and to support human rights defenders.

Fa'afetai tele lava, soifua.