Awareness days, whether they’re dedicated to the work of vital charitable causes or celebrating our favourite foods, seem to be becoming more and more prolific.
Some, however, are steeped in history - like Human Rights Day, which occurs every December.
While the name might give away the cause, keep reading to discover when and how Human Rights Day is celebrated.
Twenty days to International Human Rights Day! pic.twitter.com/MARSGQOyac
— Youth 4 Human Rights (@YFHumanRights) November 21, 2024
When is Human Rights Day?
Human Rights Day is celebrated on December 10 every year.
In 2024 this falls on a Tuesday and the theme for this year is ‘Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now.’
What does Human Rights Day mark?
Human Rights Day falls on the anniversary of when the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1984.
The international document, which was drafted by a committee chaired by Eleanor Roosevelt, is a foundational text in the history of human rights and has been translated into more than 500 languages.
Consisting of 30 articles, the declaration sets out human rights that are universally protected. The UN website lists these articles, which include:
According to the United Nations, this year’s theme is a “call to acknowledge the importance relevance of human rights in our everyday lives”.
It aims to raise awareness and education around how we as individuals have the opportunity to challenge and change perceptions by calling out hate speech, correcting misinformation and countering disinformation.
“This is the time to mobilize action to reinvigorate a global movmenet for human rights,” the statement continues.
How is Human Rights Day celebrated?
Usually, the day is marked by a mix of political conferences and cultural events.
Additionally, December 10 is when the Nobel Peace Prize and the United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights are awarded. Recipients of the latter include Nelson Mandela, Jimmy Carter and Benazir Bhutto.
The winner of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize is Nihon Hidankyo - a Japanese grassroots organisation which works with survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki 1945 atomic bombings to call for a world free of nuclear weapons. The organisation will receive the prize at the ceremony in Oslo on December 10.
