Photo by Miko Gusiuk, “stainless steel road sign photo” / Unsplash

By Parniya Bayat Mokhtari

Human Rights Day commemorates the United Nations’ general assembly’s adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.  This day is celebrated every year on December 10th, the day on which the declaration was implemented. This was one of the very first important successes of the new United Nations, and was the first universal declaration of human rights. 

The Nobel Peace Prize and the five-yearly United Nations Prize in the field of Human Rights are customarily awarded on December 10th, as well as many other special activities planned by governmental and non-governmental organizations. Every year, a new theme is chosen to remind the public of their fundamental rights and obligations as members of society. 

Last year’s Human Rights Day highlighted the drastic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on privileged people, children, and women, as well as the need to rebuild better by ensuring human rights remain at the heart of recovery efforts. Human rights must be at the forefront of recovery efforts in the post-Covid world.

This year, Human Rights Day was related to Equality – “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” This entails, among other things, confronting and resolving deep-seated kinds of discrimination that have harmed society’s most vulnrable citizens, such as women and girls, Indigenous peoples, people of African origin, LGBTQIA+ people, immigrants, and people with disabilites. 

A human rights based approach to development, including equality, inclusion, and non discrimination, are the most effective ways to minimize inequalities and re-establish our progress towards a better society.  This Human Rights Day, take some time to consider and discuss the areas in which we are lacking in equality, as well as how you may help to change them and make a difference.