Rarely do meetings really touch my feelings, but this one really did.
I had the privilege of meeting Safari Magala, a Congolese human rights defender who is one of the 14 human rights defenders selected to the European Parliament’s Sakharov Fellowship Program.
Among the many powerful messages he shared, this in particular continues to resonate in my mind: every human life matters.
We heard about children born as a result of rape, in areas devastated by conflict and violence.
These are children who, in many parts of Western societies, might never have been given the chance to be born at all.
They are a living proof that a person’s dignity is not determined by how they entered to this world.
This particular message gave me really goosebumps: you are not a mistake.
You are not defined by the circumstances of your birth. You are a human being with dignity, value and future.
Mr. Magala asked me to speak on behalf of these kids, and I will gladly do so.
The more I think about his words, the more powerful they become. Imagine a situation where a child thinks that he or she was a mistake. It has serious consequences for his/her psychological well-being.
They remind us that every life carries inherent worth, regardless of its beginning.
They want the same things as every child wants: to belong, to be loved and to be recognized as individuals with dreams, talents and limitless potential.
I left the meeting thinking about how important it is to share their stories.
Because no child should ever grow up feeling that they were a mistake.
Never.