Celebrate Universal Human Rights Month

Written by: Sitara Nair

December is recognized as National Human Rights Month, a time when people across our planet are encouraged to come together and fight for equality, justice, and the overall respect for humanity. Keep reading this article to learn more about how this national recognition came to be, and how you can even participate!

Background

To be specific, this month recognizes the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a special international document that carries the fundamental freedoms and rights that all humans are entitled to! According to the United Nations, “The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a milestone document in the history of human rights. Drafted by representatives with different legal and cultural backgrounds from all regions of the world, the Declaration was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on 10 December 1948 (General Assembly resolution 217 A) as a common standard of achievements for all peoples and all nations.” Specifically, many recognize Dec 10th as the key date titled “Human Rights Day”, as it’s the anniversary of the adoption of the document. This document inspired and helped create over 70 human rights treaties, serves as a strong basis for many governments’ human rights standards and fundamentals, and Eleanor Roosevelt was super important in its creation. For those reasons, so many honor it during Universal Human Rights Month.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights specifically includes 30 articles, such as the following:

• The right to life and safety

• The right to education

• Freedom of speech and expression

• Freedom of thought, religion, and belief

• The right to seek asylum

• The right to work under safe, fair conditions

• Freedom from discrimination or unfair treatment

As briefly mentioned before, one of the most influential leaders behind the UDHR was Eleanor Roosevelt, the former First Lady of the United States. As the chair of the drafting committee, she played such an essential role in guiding the document’s creation and ensuring that it represented people from across the world. Her work helped establish the foundation for the international human rights movement as we know it!

We celebrate Universal Human Rights Month because even though it might seem like it, human rights are not guaranteed everywhere. Even today, millions of people face unfair treatment because of their gender, color, religion, or background. Some do not have access to education, healthcare, or safe living conditions. Others live in countries where freedom of speech is limited or where violence and conflict stop people from having fundamental human rights. 

It serves a few major purposes:

• Awareness – It reminds us that human rights abuses still happen and cannot be ignored.

• Education – People learn about the UDHR and what rights they are entitled to.

• Action – Organizations, schools, and communities participate in events that promote fairness, equality, and compassion.

• Reflection – We think about how we treat others and how we can help make the world a more just place.

How Can You Participate

To participate in UHRM, it’s important to understand the 30 articles that establish universal rights for everyone. By educating yourself and others, you can learn about human rights issues, famous activists, and share what you learn with family, friends, and colleagues. Then, you can all spread the word on social media to work toward making our world a better place and fight for human equality. 

Overall, this month serves as a reminder that human rights are essential to daily life and that equality and freedom are crucial to society on Earth.