Ubuntu Lives: Human Rights

The fourth seminar was dedicated, as per the Ubuntu method, to celebrating each life, its singularity, trajectory, and obstacles, that have made each and every single one of us who we are today. In the Ubuntu United Nations program, it is associated with the essential rights that every single person requires to live, the Human Rights, and no one better than Kailash Satyarthi, a man who has been fighting for the Children's Rights to their adolescence and youth, to speak about the matter. We could also count on some delegates to share their life story, inhabitants of countries known for their violations of Human Rights, and their journey to acquiring hope and the will to fight for others.

John Volmink, Ubuntu Global Network

The esteemed leader of the Ubuntu Network and Special Host of Ubuntu United Nations started the seminar with a brief explanation of the topic at hand, Ubuntu Life. This session intends to introduce ways for our delegates to look at their lives through different lenses, enabling them to see what they overcame and celebrate their achievements in life.

The world is a large family. And the ones who want to make the world a better place, a sustainable place, a peace place, they have to feel that we are one algorithm, the humanity is only one.

Her Royal Highness, Princess Rym Ali

Another of our special hosts, along with John Volmink, the Princess of Jordan introduced our notorious guest by addressing the topic of this seminar, Human Rights and its infringement around the world. Starting by addressing the issue of child labor, the subject which Kailash Satyarthi was appointed a Nobel Peace Prize, she highlighted how Christmas Carol, the Dickens novel of the 19th century, sadly, still remains true in modern times.

She also spoke about how the Ubuntu spirit is present across the African Charter, which explains that individual rights cannot be fully enjoyed while collective are not fully respected.

Individual rights come with duties; everyone should be encouraged to act responsibly because society cannot possibly function if we all decide that we have every right but not any duty.

Kailash Satyarthi, 2014 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

Known for his fight against child forced labor, sometimes putting his life on the line through the Kailash Satyarthi Foundation, Mr. Satyarthi has earned the Nobel Peace Prize due to his strives and world campaigns to fight and raise awareness towards child slavery. Not only that, his perspective on global issues is outstanding, due to the knowledge that sometimes to solve an issue you must look at it from far, which led him to create an organization that certifies companies manufacturers of rugs who, throughout the whole, do not use children labor.

The Nobel Peace Prize Laureate accepted our invitation to speak about such issues, sharing his real-life experience on systematic issues, and how the solution is more often than not, interconnected with other solutions and issues. Only by connecting with each other can we hope to solve those problems, something that the youth should be confident to do, by believing themselves and in the power that they have.

Delegates Intervention

This week's delegates come from Afghanistan, Kenya, and Bulgaria.

From Afghanistan, Rohullah Sarwari shares his journey to exit a country torn by conflict, something that, according to him, was intensified with the new government. He shared personal stories of activists who were persecuted and highlighted the role of António Guterres, current UN Secretary-General, in providing the infrastructures necessary for him to be able to succeed.

Douglas Ogutu, from Kenya, shared his journey in becoming a musician and an artist, a hard decision that he says was worth it, due to the joy he feels when he is working, contrary to working in an office.

Bulgarian delegate Danislava Toshkova presented the asymmetry between what was legislated and her reality due to the infringement of Human Rights. She has been fighting to raise awareness in her country through art and culture, which had a tremendous impact on her life orientation.

You can watch all the interventions here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOUWuSmEUZMg3BaLGNCYV8ksFmMhE-cm6