MONDAY, December 10 is Human Rights Day celebrated all over the world by people who believe in freedom. This year is the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights established in 1948.

The year of its establishment is significant because it reminds us of why so many countries signed up to the Universal Declaration.

The horrors that the Nazis and their partners in crime in Japan, Italy and Spain inflicted on all manner of people, Jews, trade unionists, priests and journalists made it imperative that such atrocities should never happen again.

We should never forget that those military men and women who lost their lives during the Second World War did so to halt the evil doctrines of the Nazis.

For this reason December 10 each year not only reminds us of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights but also of those people who had their lives taken from them preventing the spread of an unacceptable doctrine.

We can also be proud as a nation that 80 years ago we saved 10,000 children from the Nazis in the Kindertransports, bringing soon-to-be orphans into the welcoming arms of complete strangers. It's worth remembering how those same children became contributing members of our communities up and down the country.

Amnesty West Cumbria has worked for over 30 years for human rights and freedoms. Freedom from torture, the right to a fair trial, freedom to have a family life and freedom of thought and religion.

This year Amnesty's annual Write for Rights is supporting women who are abused,who have lost their freedom or their lives for simply expressing their own views peacefully. From Brazil to India to Kyrgystan women are being punished for speaking up for basic Human Rights, anyone can send a message of support to these women just go to West Cumbria Amnesty on Facebook and follow the link.

Alan Alexander

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