The world celebrates Human Rights Day every December 10, honoring the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which enshrines the global rights to which all human beings are inherently entitled.

This year Human Rights Day calls on everyone to stand up for someone’s rights and we the people can take a stand for rights. And together, we can take a stand for more humanity.

Background

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was drafted between January 1947 and December 1948. It aimed to form a basis for human rights all over the world and represented a significant change of direction from events during World War II and the continuing colonialism that was rife in the world at the time.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is considered as the most translated document in modern history. It is available in more than 360 languages and new translations are still being added.

The UN General Assembly adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights at the Palais de Chaillot in Paris, France, on the December 10, 1948.

All states and interested organizations were invited to mark December 10 as Human Rights Day at a UN meeting on December 4, 1950.

The day was first observed on December 10 that year and has been observed each year on the same date. Each year Human Rights Day has a theme. Some of these themes have focused on people knowing their human rights or the importance of human rights education.