Universal Declaration of Human Rights

By Henrita Frost, SSND

The time is now!  We are the ones!  To be Human Rights Warriors!

On December 10, 2017, let us join with people around the world to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  Adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights sets out a broad range of fundamental human rights and freedoms to which all women and men everywhere in the world are entitled.

Thanks to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and States’ commitments to its principles, the dignity of millions has been uplifted, untold human suffering prevented and the foundations for a most just world have been laid. Yet, we cannot forget that there are countless numbers of our sisters and brothers in our Global Community, desperate to have their human rights respected – pleading for equality, justice and human dignity.

In order to highlight what the Universal Declaration means for people in their everyday lives, UN Human Rights is launching a year-long campaign on Human Rights Day 2017 that will culminate in the actual occasion of the Declaration’s 70th anniversary celebration on December 10, 2018.

The campaign will have three core objectives: to promote, engage and reflect. The aim is to engage a broad base of audiences the world over; to help promote understanding of how the Universal Declaration empowers us all; and encourage further reflection on the ways that each of us can stand up for rights, every day.

The anniversary is a call to each of us to be grateful for the Declaration and to contemplate these questions: “What can I do for the sake of human rights?”  “Where do I feel there are abuses of Human Rights?” and “With whom can I join to enable Human Dignity for all?

Consider taking the Human Rights Pledge, a pledge for each one of our sisters and brothers:

• I will respect your rights regardless of who you are. I will uphold your rights even when I disagree with you.
• When anyone’s human rights are denied, everyone’s rights are undermined, so I will stand up.
• I will raise my voice. I will take action. I will use my rights to stand up for your rights.

Let us grasp the power of this Pledge!  Root the words deep in our hearts and offer them to persons we encounter whose human rights are being denied giving then freedom, equality and dignity. Be a Human Rights Warrior!

Visit the United Nations website for more information about U.N. Human Rights Day

For information used in this document visit #STANDUP4HUMANRIGHTS