The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was published in Kreol Morisien to mark the 75th anniversary of the UDHR and to commemorate Human Rights Day 2023, this afternoon, at the Hennessy Park Hotel in Ebène. An Online Exhibition which showcased children’s artwork, revealing their interpretations of human rights through creative drawings, was also held on the occasion.
The Attorney General, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, Mr Maneesh Gobin; the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Mauritius, Mr Kawaguchi Shuichiro; the President of the Creole Speaking Union, Professor Arnaud Carpooran; and other personalities were also present.
In his address, Minister Gobin highlighted the translation of the UDHR into 560 languages as a significant milestone in history. He also pointed out that the publication’s launch comprising the 30 articles of the UDHR in Kreol Morisien, seeks to enhance accessibility for all citizens as well as facilitate a clearer understanding of human rights for individuals of diverse ages and educational backgrounds.
Additionally, the Minister emphasised that this initiative serves as a crucial tool for raising awareness and advocating human rights. He outlined the efforts of the Government to foster unity within the country, such as at the ‘Festival Kiltir ek Langaz Kreol Morisien’, with the goal to promote a deeper understanding of human rights within the community.
Mr Gobin thereby commended the endeavours of the Creole Speaking Union for their exceptional translation of the UDHR, expressing hope that this achievement will set a precedent for other creole-speaking nations to embrace and engage in similar initiatives.
In the same vein, Professor Carpooran underpinned the importance of adapting the UDHR into the populace’s mother tongue as, according to him, everyone deserves to be aware of their human rights in a language they understand fluently. He further voiced optimism about translating additional documents pertaining to human rights into Kreol Morisien, as it is a means to consequently elevate the language’s prominence.
Human Rights Day 2023
The Human Rights Day is observed by the international community on 10 December annually. It commemorates the day in 1948 when the United Nations General Assembly adopted the UDHR. The theme chosen by the United Nations this year is ‘Freedom, Equality and Justice for All’.
The celebration this year holds special significance as it marks the 75th anniversary of the UDHR which promotes the idea that human rights are universal, indivisible and essential for a just and harmonious global community.
