On the 10th of December each year, we set aside this day to reflect on the principles that form the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which sets certain rights that are the basic and minimum set of human rights for all citizens.
As stated on humanrights.gov.au, ‘Things that many of us take for granted – such as the right to an education, the right to receive medical care, and the freedom to practice our chosen religion – are not equally available to all Australians and people in other parts of the world.’
We are in preparation for the 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which aims to:
- Educate – increasing global knowledge and awareness of the UDHR and its enduring relevance for our times and for the future; and showing how the declaration has guided the work of UN Human rights
- Promote attitude change – countering the increasing scepticism of, and rollbacks against human rights by establishing that human rights are never relative and must always be upheld as what unites all of humanity
- Empower and mobilize – offering concrete knowledge and tools to help people better fight for their rights
“Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places, close to home – so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any maps in the world. […] Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere. Without concerted citizen action to uphold them close to home, we shall look in vain for progress in the larger world.” – Eleanor Roosevelt.
