Today is International Human Rights Day

Today, the 10th of December, is International Human Rights Day. In too many places around the world, Human Rights are still not properly observed. Days like this serve as a reminder of how far we've come as well as keeping us grounded as to how far we have yet to go to ensure that everyone in the world is given their basic human rights.

The United Nations says:

Human Rights Day is observed every year on 10 December. It commemorates the day on which, in 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In 1950, the Assembly passed resolution 423 (V), inviting all States and interested organizations to observe 10 December of each year as Human Rights Day.

This year’s Human Rights Day is devoted to the launch of a year-long campaign for the 50thanniversary of the two International Covenants on Human Rights: the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which were adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 16 December 1966.

The two Covenants, together with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, form the International Bill of Human Rights, setting out the civil, political, cultural, economic, and social rights that are the birth right of all human beings.

“Our Rights. Our Freedoms. Always.” aims to promote and raise awareness of the two Covenants on their 50th anniversary. The year-long campaign revolves around the theme of rights and freedoms — freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear — which underpin the International Bill of Human Rights are as relevant today as they were when the Covenants were adopted 50 years ago. For more this year’s theme and the year-long campaign, see the website of the UN Human Rights office.

You can watch this short video for more information:

The World is living in turbulent times. We are experiencing a terrible refugee crisis, war is devastating many countries and climate change threatens to cause an unparalleled international emergency. It is during times like this that we must be most vigilant in the defence of human rights.