Submitted to the United Nations General Assembly by Eleanor Roosevelt with the words “We stand today at the threshold of a great event both in the life of the United Nations and in the life of mankind. This declaration may well become the international Magna Carta for all men everywhere.” the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted on December 10, 1948.
While not a binding document, the Declaration was proclaimed as a “common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations", towards which individuals and societies should "strive by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance". The Declaration established fundamental human rights to all individuals regardless of race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, or any other status.
In the 2021 Presidential Proclamation on Human Rights Day, President Biden acknowledged the United States’ history of historically marginalized groups including persons of color, Indigenous persons, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+, and others facing heightened threats to their human rights and dignity. President Biden wrote, “Today, we know that our efforts to defend human rights around the world are stronger because we acknowledge and seek to remedy our own historical challenges as part of that same fight. Leading by example means speaking honestly about the past, upholding the truth, and striving constantly to improve.”
In observance of Human Rights Day, seek to learn how you can stand up for the rights of all humans and create the future we would like to see in the world.
Take Action:
- What are human rights?
- Create a Vision of the World You Want to See Podcast
- Stand Up For Human Rights
- Attach the Human Rights Day design elements to your email signature and/or use it in your social media
For additional education and personal development related to diversity, equity and inclusion, the following resources are available: DEI Education and Resources, DEI & Antiracism Resourcesfrom the UNC Libraries, the Education Equity Toolkitfrom the Colorado Department of Higher Education, and the UNITE workshops for faculty, staff, and students.
