https://awpasydneynews.blogspot.com/2022/12/statement-world-human-rights-day-west.html
World Human Rights Day -West Papua
10 December 2022
Today is World Human Rights Day.
This year’s theme is “Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for All”
Every Year Human Rights Day is celebrated on the 10 December to create awareness and promote respect for the rights and freedoms enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948.
Joe Collins of AWPA said, “this concept for respect and freedoms has not got through to the Indonesian security forces who continue to oppress the West Papuan people”.
22 members of the West Papua National Community (KNPB) were arrested on 8 December for handing out flyers about peaceful rallies to take place in West Papua to celebrate Human Rights Day.
"Although they were eventually released, this was an act of intimidation to stop people coming out to celebrate Human Rights Day and bringing attention to the ongoing human rights abuses in West Papua”.
The KNPB has urged people to get involved in peaceful celebrations for World Human Rights Day.
Joe Collins said, “tragically we know from the past that the security forces have used a heavy-handed approach to peaceful demonstrations particularly if the West Papuan Flag, the Morning Star is carried by the demonstrators.” Hopefully, today they will respect this year’s theme of Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for All and allow the rallies to go ahead without interference.”