United Nations Human Rights Day
by: Kathleen Montgomery
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly on December 10, 1948: “This Universal Declaration of Human Rights [is] a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society…shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance…”
Every year since 1948, countries across the globe have honored this milestone document by celebrating UN Human Rights Day on December 10.
The aspirational document, containing 30 Articles, has been translated into over 500 languages. Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights declares “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”
Article 2 states, “Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status…”
The Drafting Commission was chaired by Eleanor Roosevelt, former First Lady and avid supporter of the League of Women Voters.
For the full text of this aspirational document, please see https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights.
