"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. 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.

To Name This Day:

Websites & Organizations

Spiritual Practices

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."

Personal Explorations

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

Books

Films

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