Nana Oye to lead human rights advocates barefoot walk

Accra, Dec. 11, GNA - Nana Oye Lithur, Executive Director of Human Rights Advocate Centre (HRAC) is to lead hundreds of human rights advocates across the country on "Barefoot Walk," to commemorate International Human Rights Day on Wednesday December 15th.

The Human Rights Advocates, Media Practitioners, Ministers of State, Legal Professionals, Civil Society Activists, School children and a Cross Section of the public would walk from the Supreme Court on the High Street through the 28th February Crossroad to the Independence Square. Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Saturday, Nana Oye explained that around the world the Human Rights Day is marked with celebrations and calls for equality and respect.

"This year an international campaign to walk barefoot against poverty will be the focus of Human Rights Day, which falls on December 10th. Poverty, the subject of the first Millennium Development Goal, is often the greatest obstacle to human rights."

Nana Oye said: "It doesn't matter how much money you have, anyone can walk barefoot. It's one of the few things that unite people around the word. "Sadly for too many people, walking barefoot is not a choice but a necessity. This shouldn't be the case. Walking barefoot for poverty to mark Human Rights Day is a way to connect people and highlight the plight of those who struggle for access to the most basic of human rights". Nana Oye noted: "It hinders access to educational rights, to health rights, to sanitation and safety; all those challenges that make up the remaining Millennium Goals. It is fundamental to all human rights". She said the day would also be used to highlight the link between poverty and access to Human Rights in Ghana and to draw attention to the plight of millions of poor Africans who don't have access to the most basic of human rights.

Nana Oye explained: "Removing my shoes to walk for those who don't have shoes, is a powerful gesture. Poverty is often the greatest hindrance to a person's rights - rights to health and education, to clean water and sanitation.

"In 2010, every man, woman and child should experience the freedoms the Human Rights declaration envisaged more than half a century ago. The truth is, we're not there yet. We must keep working for human rights". This year, International Human Rights Day (10 December) is used by Human rights defenders to speak out against abuse and violations including discrimination, exclusion, oppression and violence and advocate for justice and seek to protect the victims of human rights violations. They demand accountability for perpetrators and transparency in government action.