The United Nations(UN)’s Human Rights Day(International Human Rights Day or World Human Rights Day) is annually observed across the globe on 10th December to create awareness and mobilize political will to promote respect for rights and freedoms.
- The observance commemorates the anniversary of the day on which the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was adopted in 1948. The UDHR enshrines the rights of all human beings.
The theme of Human Rights Day 2022 is “Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for All”.
Background:
i.The United Nations General Assembly(UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/423 (V) on 4th December 1950 proclaiming the 10th December of every year as Human Rights Day.
ii.The formal inception of Human Rights Day dates from 1950. The first UN Human Rights Day was observed on 10th December 1950.
Why December 10?
The UNGA adopted the resolution A/RES/217 A and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) on 10th December 1948 in Paris, France.
Significance of Human Rights Day 2022:
i.Human Rights Day 2022 marked the launch of a year-long campaign to promote and recognise the 75th anniversary of the UDHR, which will be celebrated on 10th December 2023.
ii.The campaign aims to showcase the UDHR by focusing on its legacy, relevance and activism
iii.The campaign plans to change the understanding and action towards a greater knowledge of the universality of the UDHR and the activism associated with it.
iv.UHDR 75 aims to
- Educate – create awareness about UDHR and its relevance of our times and for the future.
- Promote attitude change – counter the increasing scepticism of, and rollbacks against human rights.
- Empower & mobilise – to offer concrete knowledge and tools to support people to fight for their rights.
About UDHR:
i.UDHR established for the first time the indivisible and inalienable rights of all humanity.
ii.UDHR proclaimed the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.
iii.UDHR is available in more than 500 languages. It holds the Guinness World Record as the most translated document in the world.
About United Nations Human Rights Council(UN-HRC)
Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe.
The Council is made up of 47 UN Member States which are elected by the UNGA.
Created on 15th March 2006.
President(2022)– Federico Villegas
About the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights– Volker Türk
Headquarters– Geneva, Switzerland
