Celebrating the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

This year’s Human Rights Day gives special recognition to an important document created 59 years ago. Today, we will stat a one-year long celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The United Nations Secretary General and High Commissioner for Human Rights are devoting the upcoming 2008 year to reflect on the state of human rights around the world. This year-long commemoration is an opportunity to promote the mechanisms that are imperative to protecting human rights and universality of the Declaration.

To take part in the United Nations efforts to raise awareness of the Declaration, the Human Rights Committee is embarking on an important blog initiative. Starting today, December 10, 2007, our blog will raise awareness on the significance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by relating today’s human rights events with articles from the Declaration. Every two weeks, we will bring you an Article from the Declaration and express our impressions of the meaning of the Article and how it relates to current events of today. Starting with Article 1, we will share with you the latest news, initiatives and inspiration for change. Until we have reached Article 30, we hope to encourage you to speak out and get engaged in important human rights issues. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is pivotal instrument that can help bring hope and understanding to every basic right that should be given to everyone. Join us and celebrate!


About the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
On December 10, 1948, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The United States had a strong voice in developing the text of the Declaration. Eleanor Roosevelt led the drafting of the UDHR and was perhaps the most prominent American involved in the promotion of universal human rights. She hoped that the document would become “the international Magna Carta.” The UDHR defines set of rights, including civil/political liberties and social conditions of freedom, to be enjoyed by all humans but does not have any enforcement mechanism.

Polling data shows that awareness of the UDHR is low. The 1997 poll conducted by the Hart Research found that only 8% of respondents could name the document and 24% had previously heard of it.