(ANS - Madrid)- More than 800 million people suffer from hunger in the world. 57 million children do not attend school. Millions of people are forced to leave their homes because of war in Syria, Iraq, Central African Republic and elsewhere.  Torture, disappearances, rapes, and attacks on civilians are commonplace. The gap between rich and poor has widened. This is the world that we live in as we the celebrate the 66th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which occurs tomorrow,10 December.

"It is a pity that we remember people’s fundamental rights only once a year.  There are another 364 days for us to demand that people’s rights be acknowledged and respected" says Ana Muñoz, spokesperson for the Salesian Mission Office in Madrid.

2014 was a particularly difficult year in the field of Human Rights. The wars in Syria, Central African Republic and South Sudan have left millions of people without protection, and the Ebola outbreak has shown up a lack of commitment to the poor.

The Salesians are working in 133 countries around the world, fighting for the defence and protection of the most vulnerable. Children and young people at risk are one of their priorities. "Education and quality training are our way of helping them out of poverty," says Ms. Muñoz. “However, the Salesians also work to strengthen the role of women in society, and to improve access to health care especially in emergency situations like Syria, Central African Republic and the countries affected by Ebola - Sierra Leone, Guinea Conakry and Liberia."

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a guarantee for all people by the mere fact of being there. However, every day we see how these rights are violated by governments that do not provide the necessary protection and do not commit themselves radically to their implementation. For this reason the Salesian Mission Office in Madrid, on the occasion of Human Rights Day, calls on governments and the international community to show real commitment to fundamental rights and greater protection for the most vulnerable.

Published 09/12/2014