December of 2009 marks the 61st anniversary of the United Nations General Assembly’s adoption of the “Universal Declaration of Human Rights” in 1948. Each year on December 10th the international community organizes a global Human Rights Day that serves to commemorate the monumental declaration as well as to address current human rights issues.
This year’s Human Rights Day will primarily focus on the issues pertaining to the universal topic of discrimination. In regards to this year’s central issue, Navi Pillay, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, maintains that, “Discrimination lies at the root of many of the world’s most pressing human rights problems. No country is immune from this scourge. Eliminating discrimination is a duty of the highest order.” Therefore, in order to combat discrimination in all its forms, Human Rights Day encourages the international community to engage themselves in activities that promote tolerance and respect for diversity.
Countries all over the world have actively demonstrated their support for Human Rights Day 2009. South Africa is hosting the first World Human Rights Moot Competition, in which a group of international students will discuss a fictive human rights case based on the concept of non-discrimination that will then be evaluated by a panel of real judges. In New York, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon is facilitating a panel discussion, which will analyze discrimination in relation to race and development. An international summit, “The Courage to Lead: A Human Rights Summit for Women Leaders”, will also take place in honor of Human Rights Day. Assembling in Geneva, women from 28 countries will discuss issues of discrimination and how women in positions of leadership can promote equal human rights in their respective communities and countries.
WCI supports all of the work Human Rights Day has inspired, and also subscribes to the belief that everyone can make a difference.
For more information on Human Rights Day 2009 please see the following link:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/AboutUs/Pages/HumanRightsDay2009.aspx
