Human Rights Day in South Africa

What is Human Rights Day

The day the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was ratified by the UN General Assembly in 1948 is commemorated as Human Rights Day.

Human Rights Day all Quick Overview 

• Time/Date: December 10 
• Category: Federal
• Where it’s Marked: Globally
• Why it’s Marked: We observe this day every year to commemorate the day in 1948 when the United Nations General Assembly enacted and promulgated the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

History of Human Rights Day 

Let's examine the history of the day and the occasions that resulted in its creation.

After World War II, human rights advocacy needed to be more vocal. Amid the mass murder of Jews, disabled persons, gays, and other individuals by Nazi Germany, the necessity to defend the rights of individuals from different aspects of life against the cruel atrocities of regimes and tyrants became apparent.

Subsequently, the leaders of several governments vowed to establish the United Nations as an intergovernmental community to defend civil liberties, particularly those of those with severely limited "power." US President Franklin D. Roosevelt initially mentioned the core of such humanitarian ideas in 1941's State of the Union Address by US President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The 32nd US President kept saying four fundamental freedoms - freedom of expression, freedom of religion, freedom from want, and freedom from fear - in his widely recognized "Four Freedoms" discourse. 

Roosevelt's remark had a significant impact on how representatives from all over the globe coalesced to endorse the creation of the United Nations Charter in San Francisco in 1945. Throughout the process, the UN's member nations constituted a Universal declaration Of Human rights on February 16, 1946, intending to create a statement outlining the inherent freedoms and liberties enshrined in the Charter. The Commission produced the UDHR, enacted by the 56 sovereign states on December 10, 1956, under the "persuasive" presidency of Anna Eleanor Roosevelt. 

How to Celebrate Human Rights Day

We observe Human Rights Day and appreciate our privileges and the expense paid to safeguard them. To promote consciousness about human rights, Human Rights Day is actively observed worldwide by organizing installations, parliamentary gatherings, seminars, community festivals, and a variety of other initiatives.

The United Nations website has carefully portrayed a series of exhibits to celebrate Human Rights Day on its website, and some common themes include:

• From Despair to Hope: Children beyond Armed Conflict. 
• The World in Faces 
• Forgotten Victims: The Nazi Genocide of the Roma and Sinti
• Sexual Violence in Conflict: Youth speak out through the Arts 

Recognizing that humans are, at their core, people is the goal of National Human Rights Month. Disseminate information about the significance of addressing individuals we come into contact with compassion, integrity, and generosity, regardless of their gender, age, color, political beliefs, or social standing. Last but not least, Posts on social media should include the hashtags #NationalHumanRights and #HumanRights.

Countries that Observe Human Rights Day 

President Jacob Zuma of South Africa spoke at the Sharpeville Cricket Facilities in Gauteng on Human Rights Day. Throughout Human Rights Month, the government sponsors several events to urge South Africans to keep cooperating to protect the progressive society.

The Seattle Human Rights Commission in the US state of Washington emphasized Black Voices in 2020. Critical stakeholders facilitated a debate on the Black Experience in Seattle from King County Equity Now, Decriminalize Seattle, Converge Media, the Black Trans Task Force, and Morning March Seattle. The 2018 festivities commemorating the Universal Declaration of Human Rights mainly concentrated on Seattle's symbolic interactionism of human rights.

In India, on Human Rights Day, a specific theme is chosen to increase its successful accomplishment. Human poverty is the biggest threat to human rights in any nation. Eliminating poverty from people's lives and assisting them in obtaining a good quality of life is one of the main aims of the civil liberties day celebration. Numerous more events focusing on teaching people about their rights are held in the areas of musicals, theatre, dance, fine art, and others. Most of the activities on this day are focused on teaching people, both children, and teenagers, about their civil dignity. Some demonstration initiatives are also conducted to bring attention to places where personal freedoms are ignored or disregarded.

Interesting Facts about Human Rights Day

In light of this, we've compiled a list of 7 fascinating facts about human rights that you might not be aware of.

• To memorialize a tragedy that transpired on that day in 1960, it is held on March 21 in South Africa. 
• A 2017 study found that 72 nations continue to criminalize the existence of gay relationships. In eight countries, it carries a death sentence. 
• Human rights abuses have recently been prevalent in Venezuela, Yemen, Syria, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Myanmar, and China. 
• The United States' departure from the UN Committee on Human Rights in 2018 provoked controversy and resentment worldwide.
• Domestic abuse is not yet regarded as a crime.
• Amnesty International, an organization that advocates civil dignity, gave the film version of Lord of War (2005) their official sanction.
• Individuals who were only pursuing their rights and liberties were incarcerated as conscience-based prisoners by further than half of the world's governments in 2014.

Unique Human Rights Day Celebration Ideas 

Now, as we present some fun and exciting ways to celebrate Human Rights Day apart from traditional ones, sit tight and ensure you have tried at least two of them! 

• Take the Human Rights Pledge
• Encourage in Storytelling
• Volunteer for United Nations
• Watch Eleanor Roosevelt’s Human Rights Speech from 1948.
• Try out these games online if you’re a big fan of gaming. Now that’s quite an exciting way to celebrate this event! 

1. Ayiti: The Cost of Life – Poverty
2. Against All Odds- Refugees
3. Payspent- Homelessness
4. Syrian Journey: Choose your Escape Routes- Refugees
5. Fighters for Rights- Social Movements
6. Prisoners of War- Geneva Conventions 

Human Rights Day Quotes 

Every individual has the same privileges and is immaculately conceived. We aim that these expressions may encourage you to defend the freedoms essential to safeguard us all and to advance the idea that all people are associated.

“The rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened.” -John F. Kennedy

“A right delayed is a right denied.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

“To deny people of their human rights is to challenge their very humanity.” -Nelson Mandela

“Peace can only last where human rights are respected, where the people are fed, and where individuals and nations are free.” – Dalai Lama

FAQ

1. What's the theme for Human Rights Day 2022?

This year’s theme is “Our hope for a more just, safe, and peaceful world can only be achieved when there is universal respect for the inherent dignity and equal rights of all members of the human family.”

2. What are some topics of Speech for Human Rights? 

Some common topics include: Women and the Economy, The Unfairness of Justice, Borderless Water Crisis

3. What is the most significant Human Rights issue? 

The current trending issue would be ‘the right to life and liberty.’

4. What are the five characteristics of Human Rights? 

Human rights are universal, inherent, fundamental, irrevocable, and dynamic.