Celebrate HUMAN RIGHTS DAY

The United Nations' (UN) Human Rights Day is annually observed December 10 to mark the anniversary of the presentation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Human rights provide a foundation for building a just and peaceful world. Every human being on the planet has the right to dignity, respect, and freedom - whatever their race, colour, sex, sexual orientation, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, wealth or other status.

On 10 December 1948, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The Declaration has been translated into over 300 languages and dialects - from Abkhaz to Zulu. It is the holder of the Guinness World Record for the document that has been most translated.

DEC 10, 2011 Stand Up and Be Counted

What the declaration contains:

The Declaration contains 30 articles. Amongst these are:

  • Article 1: all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights?
  • Article 3: everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.
  • Article 4: ...slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.
  • Article 5: no one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
  • Article 18: everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion...
  • Article 19: everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression?
  • Article 20: everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association...