Archbishop Celebrates 60th Anniversary Declaration of Human Rights
60th Anniversary Declaration of Human RightsWednesday 10th December 2008
The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu today presented awards to people who have defended human rights.Celebrating the 60th anniversary declaration of human rights, the Archbishop of York addressed hundreds of school children from the Yorkshire region.
Dr Sentamu said: "The temptation which we suffer from is to see our rights as more important than other people's. We then start to see other people as slightly less than human. Very soon, we start treating them accordingly." He added: "Start with the golden rule. The golden rule is that we treat others as we wish them to treat us. If I do things which diminish my neighbour, I am making myself less than human in the process". The Archbishop also called for the school children to recognise duties to one another and the wider world. As part of his address, Dr Sentamu said: "This is your world and one day, you will be responsible for it. What do you want your world to be like in 60 years time when perhaps your children or even grandchildren may be gathered at a similar service? The choices are up to you."
Dr Sentamu was attending an event organised by Born Free and Equal where school children across the Yorkshire region have taken part in a Human Rights project. At the close of the service at York Minster, the Archbishop also presented awards for the winners of the competition.
The 2008 Human Rights Award Winners were:
Ms Cherifa Kheddar - The Award for the Defence of the Human Rights of Women
Mr Christopher Mulenga - The Award for the Defence of the Human Rights of Children
The Luapula Foundation, Zambia - The Award for the Defence of the Human Rights of People with HIV/AIDS
Ms Asipa Musaeva - The Award for the Defence of the Human Rights of Disabled People
Mr Daniel Barenboim - The Award for the Global Defence of Human Rights
The school children's work is available on display at York Minster from 5th December to 15th December 2008 and then will be on display at York Central Library. Please also visit www.is-humanrightsawards.org.uk for more details.