Human Rights Day

"Where do human rights begin? In small places, close to home: the neighborhood; the school or college; the factory, farm or office. Such are the places where every man, woman and child seeks equal justice; equal opportunity, equal dignity without discrimination. Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere."
— Eleanor Roosevelt

This is Human Rights Day. The theme for 2008 is "Dignity and justice for all of us." This is a day to celebrate the adoption in 1948 by the United Nations General Assembly of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights. This document has been and continues to be a source of inspiration for national and international efforts to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Because 2008 marks the 60th anniversary of the Declaration, December 10 - 17 has been designated Human Rights Week. The General Assembly of the National Council of the churches of Christ in the USA and Church World Service have called for churches in the U.S. to observe the 60th anniversary on Sunday, December 14.

To Name This Day:

• Read the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

• Make a vow this day to affirm in your thoughts and deeds the following principle: "Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind such as race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or world origin, property, birth or other status."

• Choose one of the following areas and research related issues, developments, and action plans:

Gender
Right to Water
Protest Torture
Civil Liberties
Environmental Justice
Stop Exploitation and Human Trafficking
Stop Genocide
• Read more about Human Rights Day at the UN's website and find events in your area.

• Read a book on the struggle for human rights. Two good ones are Faith and Human Rights: Christianity and the Global Struggle for Human Rights by Richard Amesbury and George Newlands and Rabble Rouser for Peace: The Authorized Biography of Desmond Tutu by John Allen

• View the documentary Punitive Damage, a film that puts a human face on human rights violations in a far-away place.

• View the documentary The Devil Came on Horseback, a searing documentary on the indifference of the world to genocide.