The UN General Assembly proclaimed 10 December as Human Rights Day in 1950, to bring to the attention ‘of the peoples of the world’ the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as the common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations.
“As we continue to strive towards a world that acknowledges the rights of all human beings, the Vienna Declaration and Plan of Action, adopted at the World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna in 1993, still sets the agenda for much of our work. The Declaration, which led to historic advances in the promotion and protection of human rights, is the most significant overarching human rights document produced in the past 40 years”. – UN Human Rights Chief, Navi Pillay
In 2013, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights marks 20 years since its establishment.
The United Nations General Assembly created the mandate of High Commissioner for the promotion and protection of all human rights in December 1993. The General Assembly was acting on a recommendation from delegates to the World Conference on Human Rights held in Vienna earlier the same year.
The Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted by the World Conference, marked the beginning of a renewed effort in the protection and promotion of human rights and is regarded as one of the most significant human rights documents of the past quarter century. UN EVENTS AROUND THE WORLD
Human Rights Day is celebrated annually across the world on 10 December.
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, except for the Bible, organizations around the globe used the year to focus on helping people everywhere learn about their rights.
HUMAN RIGHTS ACHIEVEMENTS
The creation of the position of High Commissioner for Human Rights in 1993 has enabled an independent, authoritative voice to speak out for human rights worldwide.
The Office of the High Commissioner responds to crises, supports human rights defenders, and brings human rights closer to people. Through advocacy, monitoring and training activities, it contributes to legislative and policy reforms to increase accountability for human rights violations and advance human rights.
Many challenges lie ahead in the struggle to promote and enhance the dignity, freedom, and rights of all human beings. In the past two decades, however, significant progress has been made.
The following are 20 of the most important achievements accomplished since 1993:
A growing consensus is emerging that business enterprises have human rights responsibilities.
HUMAN RIGHTS DAY 2013
Human Rights Day continues the celebration of the 20th anniversary with 20 YEARS: WORKING FOR YOUR RIGHTS as its theme but with the emphasis on the future and identifying the challenges that lie ahead.
Human Rights Day is held on 10 December every year, the date the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, proclaiming its principles as the “common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations.”
Human Rights Day is celebrated globally, at the headquarters of the High Commissioner’s office in Geneva, in New York and in more than 50 other countries.
Events – Geneva, New York
Special events to commemorate Human Rights Day, will be held on 5 December in Geneva and10 December in New York and in the Human Rights field offices in all regions. Learn more >
Achievements – messaging
This year, because of its special significance as the 20th anniversary of the Office, organizers of Human Rights Day may choose to highlight one or more of the human rights achievements of the past two decades. The summary list below may be useful as guidance.
Summary list of achievements >>
- Economic, social, cultural, civil, political rights and the right to development
- Human rights and peace and security
- Human rights treaties
- Individual complaints mechanisms
- Rule of law (International Criminal Court)
- Human Rights Council and its Universal Periodic Review
- Independent human rights experts, assessment and investigative missions
- Civil society
- Right to participation
- National human rights institutions
- Torture and modern slavery
- Trafficking
- Business and human rights
- Freedom of expression
- Emerging rights (rights of older persons, right to the truth, right to a clean environment, right to clean water and sanitation and the right to food)
Upholding the rights of:
- Women
- People with disabilities
- Migrants
- LGBT
- Indigenous peoples and minorities
In 2013, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights marks 20 years since its establishment.In this video the UN Human Rights Office highlights some of the historic human rights events of the past 20 years, successes, challenges and looking forward at the road ahead – for human rights.
20th anniversary of the UN Human Rights Office.
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Human Rights Day celebrated since 1950 – DEC 10
December 7, 2013 by Team Celebration
Human rights have become central to the global conversation regarding peace, security and development.
New human rights standards have built on the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the implementation of international human rights treaties is significantly improved.
Additional explicit protections in international law now exist covering, among others, children, women, victims of torture, persons with disabilities, and regional institutions. Where there are allegations of breaches, individuals can bring complaints to the international human rights treaty bodies.
Women’s rights are now acknowledged as fundamental human rights. Discrimination and acts of violence against women are at the forefront of the human rights discourse.
6. There is global consensus that serious violations of human rights must not go unpunished. Victims have the right to claim justice, including within processes to restore the rule of law following conflicts. The International Criminal Court brings perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity to justice.
There has been a paradigm shift in the recognition of the human rights of people with disabilities, especially and crucially, their right to effective participation in all spheres of life on an equal basis with others.
There is now an international framework that recognizes the challenges facing migrants and their families which guarantees their rights and those of undocumented migrants.
The rights of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender individuals have been placed on the international agenda.
The challenges facing indigenous peoples and minorities are increasingly being identified and addressed by the international human rights mechanisms, especially with respect to their right to non-discrimination.
The Human Rights Council, set up in 2006, has addressed vital and sensitive issues and its Universal Periodic Review, established in the same year, has allowed countries to assess each other’s human rights records, make recommendations and provide assistance for improvement.
Independent human rights experts and bodies monitor and investigate from a thematic or country-specific perspective. They cover all rights in all regions, producing hard-hitting public reports that increase accountability and help fight impunity.
States and the United Nations recognize the pivotal role of civil society in the advancement of human rights. Civil society has been at the forefront of human rights promotion and protection, pinpointing problems and proposing innovative solutions, pushing for new standards, contributing to public policies, giving voice to the powerless, building worldwide awareness about rights and freedoms and helping to build sustainable change on the ground.
There is heightened awareness and growing demand by people worldwide for greater transparency and accountability from government and for the right to participate fully in public life.
National human rights institutions have become more independent and authoritative and have a powerful influence on governance. Over a third of all countries have established one or more such institutions.
The United Nations Fund for Victims of Torture has assisted hundreds of thousands of victims of torture to rebuild their lives. Likewise, the United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund on Contemporary Forms of Slavery, with its unique victim-oriented approach, has provided humanitarian, legal, and financial aid to individuals whose human rights have been violated through more than 500 projects.
Victims of trafficking are now regarded as entitled to the full range of human rights and are no longer perceived to be criminals.
There are now guidelines for States which support freedom of expression while defining where speech constitutes a direct incitement to hatred or violence.
The body of international human rights law continues to evolve and expand, to address emerging human rights issues such as the rights of older persons, the right to the truth, a clean environment, water and sanitation, and food.
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