Coptic Orthodox Church UK
Media and
Communications Office
Coptic Orthodox
Church (Europe)
Media and Communications Office
Statement by His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos,
Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of London
on
Human Rights Day 2020
10 December 2020
As we commemorate Human Rights
Day this year while experiencing the devastation of a global pandemic, we are
ever more conscious of the importance of human relations and interaction, and
the value of every human being. While Covid-19 has indeed affected the whole
world, it has increasingly come to light that when tragedies or challenges
befall individuals and communities, those who are already vulnerable,
marginalised, discriminated against, and/or oppressed, are impacted disproportionately
to a much greater extent. Sadly, these same individuals and communities tend to
be deprived of the provisions and safeguards ensured by the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights[1], a document adopted by the
United Nations in 1948 affirming the inalienable equal rights of everyone,
everywhere.
Human Rights Day is another
reminder of the equal value we have before God, Who has provided us all with
His image and likeness, indiscriminately and without exception. It is also a
reminder that we are entrusted with the protection of human dignity and the value
of human life that He has provided for each and every one of us. Where we see
injustice in the application, or lack thereof, of those rights, we must voice
concern, advocate for, and stand by, those whose rights are denied, remembering
the words of Dietrich Bonhoeffer that “not to speak is to speak, and not to act
is to act”. When we stand for one another’s rights, we stand for our own.
We have seen such wonderful
acts of compassion, solidarity, and comradery during the pandemic here in
Britain and around the world, sometimes from unexpected places. We have also seen
and continue to witness selfless acts of bravery, courage and kindness from
individuals and groups in a variety of sectors, and that is the spirit of a
diverse humanity working in harmony. That is the spirit that the world needs,
and is the spirit of Human Rights Day; to ensure kindness, respect and dignity for
all, even those beyond the reach of our immediate environments.
Today and every day we pray
for our world and for every one of its members, all of whom stand equal before
God, and are equally deserving to be seen and catered for by humankind. We also
pray for human rights defenders and advocates who are often in the most
dangerous parts of the world, and continue to be the voice and hope of those
for whom they courageously and selflessly stand.
The sentiments of equality are
not merely philosophical, but must be translated into meaningful terms and
realised action. This year has taught us that the vulnerability of any
individual or nation adds to our own corporate vulnerability, and so in acknowledging
and safeguarding the rights and wellbeing of others, we play our part in doing
so for the whole world.
*Ends*
