admin | December 7, 2015
Human Rights Day is observed every year on December 10. It commemorates the day on which, in 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
This year’s Human Rights Day is devoted to the launch of a year-long campaign marking the 50th anniversary of the two international covenants on human rights: the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which were adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 16, 1966.
The two covenants, together with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, form the International Bill of Human Rights, which sets out the civil, political, cultural, economic, and social rights that are the birthright of all human beings.
This year’s theme is: “Our Rights. Our Freedoms. Always.” The theme aims to promote and raise awareness of the two covenants on their 50th anniversary. The campaign focuses on rights and freedoms—freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear.
For more information on this year’s theme, and for events and resources related to the year-long campaign, go to the website of the UN Human Rights office: http://www.un.org/en/events/humanrightsday/