Celebrate Human Rights Day!

We have many things to look forward to during winter, like a two-week break, Hanukkah, and Christmas. Although it’s not talked about as much as the previous things I mentioned, Human Rights Day is also in December. According to the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights, OHCHR, “The formal inception of Human Rights Day dates from 1950, after the Assembly passed resolution 423 (V) inviting all States and interested organizations to adopt 10 December of each year as Human Rights Day.”

Human Rights Day is celebrated around the world by many countries; it is typically recognized by both governmental and non-governmental organizations. Many use this day as an opportunity to bring awareness on issues that center around human rights and hold special events that pay tribute to this day. We celebrate this day to bring awareness for those who haven’t been granted fundamental human rights. According to the OHCHR, we celebrate this day on December 10 because that’s when the Declaration of Human Rights was approved by the UN General Assembly back in 1948.

It may not be mentioned as much as Christmas is, but it should be. Celebrating this day is important because it holds significance about why human rights are important and how many people had to fight for it.

Human rights are a universal thing, they apply to everyone regardless of race, sexual orientation, and gender which is why we have a whole day dedicated to celebrating our rights. For a more in-depth explanation of the importance of human rights, www.state.gov has a ton of information.