Human Rights Day 2012

 

 

Human Rights Day is celebrated annually across the world on 10 December.

 

“On this Day,

let us unite to defend your right to make it heard.”

 

The date was chosen to honor the United Nations General Assembly’s adoption and proclamation, on 10 December 1948, of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the first global enunciation of human rights and one of the first major achievements of the new United Nations. The formal establishment of Human Rights Day occurred at the 317th Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly on 4 December 1950, when the General Assembly declared resolution 423(V), inviting all member states and any other interested organizations to celebrate the day as they saw fit.

The day is normally marked both by high-level political conferences and meetings and by cultural events and exhibitions dealing with human rights issues. In addition, it is traditionally on 10 December that the five-yearly United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights and Nobel Peace Prize are awarded. Many governmental and nongovernmental organizations active in the human rights field also schedule special events to commemorate the day, as do many civil and social-cause organiZations.
The theme for 2006 was the struggle against poverty, taking it as a human rights issue. Several statements were released on that occasion, including the one issued by 37 United Nations Special Procedures mandate holders.

“Today, poverty prevails as the gravest human rights challenge in the world. Combating poverty, deprivation and exclusion is not a matter of charity, and it does not depend on how rich a country is. By tackling poverty as a matter of human rights obligation, the world will have a better chance of abolishing this scourge in our lifetime… Poverty eradication is an achievable goal.” —UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour, 10 December 2006

The 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights occurred on 10 December 2008, and the UN Secretary-General launched a year-long campaign leading up to this anniversary. Because the UDHR holds the world record as the most translated document (with more than 360 language versions available), organizations around the globe used the year to focus on helping people everywhere learn about their rights.

Human Rights Day, 10 December

Human Rights Day presents an opportunity, every year, to celebrate human rights, highlight a specific issue, and advocate for the full enjoyment of all human rights by everyone everywhere.

This year, the spotlight is on the rights of all people — women, youth, minorities, persons with disabilities, indigenous people, the poor and marginalized — to make their voices heard in public life and be included in political decision-making.

These human rights — the rights to freedom of opinion and expression, to peaceful assembly and association, and to take part in government (articles 19, 20 and 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights) have been at the centre of the historic changes in the Arab world over the past two years, in which millions have taken to the streets to demand change. In other parts of the world, the “99%” made their voices heard through the global Occupy movement protesting economic, political and social inequality.

Make your voice count!

People around the world used #VoiceCount to share their thoughts about the right to participate in public life and political decision-making.

The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, answered questions from around the world at a Google+ Hangout on 10 December.

The date was chosen to honor the United Nations General Assembly’s adoption and proclamation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) on 10 December 1948 – the first global enunciation of human rights.

The Human Rights Day was formally established at the General Assembly on 4 December 1950, when all member states and any other interested organizations were invited to celebrate the day as they saw fit.

The day is a high point in the calendar of UN headquarters in New York City, and is normally marked by both high-level political conferences and meetings and by cultural events and exhibitions dealing with human rights issues. In addition, it is traditionally on 10 December that the five-yearly United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights and Nobel Peace Prize are awarded.

The right to participate – Human Rights Day 2012

SHARE YOUR STORY IN OUR COMMENT BOX – WHAT DID YOU DO FOR ‘HUMAN RIGHTS DAY’?

 

Resources

Human Rights Day
Information about Human Rights Day on the Wikipedia site.

Human Rights – United Nations
Link to the Human Rights section of the United Nations website, including information grouped by thematic issues, international courts, tribunals and other resources.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)
Online text of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) on the United Nations website.

United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of the Child
The Convention on the Rights of the Child, agreed by the United Nations, came into force in September 1990. The text of the Convention is available online or as a PDF file.

British Red Cross – War crime evidence
This material looks at legal processes, specifically following the conflict during the 1990s in the former Yugoslavia.

British Red Cross – War crimes trial
Find out about the war crimes trial of Dražen Erdemovic, a soldier in the 10th Sabotage Detachment of the Bosnian Serb Army.

British Red Cross – International criminal court
This teacher briefing focuses on the work of the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

British Red Cross – Justice and Fairness
The Justice and Fairness teaching resource allows students to explore issues of fairness and justice through the lens of international humanitarian law or the “laws of war”.

British Red Cross – Global Lines
A teaching resource that introduces secondary school students to concepts of global citizenship.

British Red Cross – Positive images
The Positive Images toolkit is an educational resource for teachers, youth workers and other educators to teach young people about migration and development.

British Red Cross – Somewhere to run to
This interactive resource for 7-11 year olds enables young people to create their own model of an emergency camp through considering the tough choices people make in a disaster.

British Red Cross – Needs and wants auction
Use this needs and wants auction activity to get young people discussing how to cope in a crisis.

Humanism/Secularism
Section of the Education Scotland Testimony website with information about humanism and secularism, its central teachings, and the people who practice it.