Human Rights Day is observed on December 10 every year. It commemorates the day on which, in 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In 1950, the Assembly passed resolution 423 (V), inviting all States and interested organizations to observe 10 December of each year as Human Rights Day.
The theme for Human Rights Day 2015 is “Our Rights. Our Freedoms. Always”
This year’s Human Rights Day is devoted to the launch of a year-long campaign for the 50th anniversary of the two International Covenants on Human Rights: the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which were adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 16 December 1966.
The two Covenants, together with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, form the International Bill of Human Rights, setting out the civil, political, cultural, economic, and social rights that are the birth right of all human beings.
- War crimes or other violations of the “laws of war” were carried out in at least 18 countries.
- Refugees and migrants were – and still are – at particular risk.
- More than 3,400 people drowned in the Mediterranean Sea in 2014. Armed groups committed abuses in 35 countries.
- Nearly three-quarters of governments, around 119 countries out of 160, arbitrarily restricted freedoms. 82% (131 out of 160) of countries tortured or otherwise ill-treated people.
The day is normally marked both by high-level political conferences and meetings and by cultural events and exhibitions dealing with human rights issues. In addition it is traditionally on 10 December that the five-yearly United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights and Nobel Peace Prize are awarded.
