Why is Human Rights Day celebrated on December 10 every year?

What is Human Rights Day? A Brief History

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  • On December 10, 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted UDHR ( Universal Declaration of Human Rights ) to ensure rights (social, cultural, political and religious) to every person irrespective of their caste, gender, race, religion, sex, nationality, and so on. December 10 is a day to remind the rights violated and the rights humanity deserves. 
  • UDHR document is available in more than 500 languages.
  • Before UDHR, other documents existed; however, when translated, there were policies that ignored women, people of color, religion, and race. 
  • The need for UDHR became louder after WW2 because of the killings of jews, people with disabilities, homosexuals, and others by Nazi Germany. There was a call to protect the people against government abuses.
  • Thereby countries came together to form the United Nations to safeguard the rights of people, especially those who lack power. 
  • It is not a legally binding document but realizes that treatment given out to the country’s citizens is an international concern.
  • 2021 is about ‘Equality’ that refers to Article 1 of the document – “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” 
  • The theme describes discrimination affecting women and girls, indigenous peoples, people of African descent, LGBT, migrants, and people with disabilities, etc.

Human Rights Issues Of The Future

Human trafficking

Refugee crises

Workers rights

Gender equality

LGBTQ+ rights

Human rights and technology (data privacy, the definition of hate speech, surveillance, and digital security)

Dangers of Nationalism

Attacks on journalists and the spread of misinformation

Climate change – It is one of the greatest threats to the human rights of the future generation

Source: Outlook