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the destiny of human rights is in the hands of all our citizens in all our communities.
~ Eleanor Roosevelt

December 10th marks the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This document has been signed by many countries around the world. In 1998, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of its creation.

Former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt was a key figure in drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Amnesty International, a Nobel Prize winning, human rights organization uses the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a basis of their beliefs. This year also marks AI's 40th anniversary. The first candle lit on behalf of Amnesty International was lit on Human Rights Day in 1961.

In the beginning, AI focused on a few articles of the UDHR. Here are just two of the thirty articles:

Article 18

Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

Article 19

Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

In Canada & other countries,
Human Rights Day is encompassed into
16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence.
 
 

• November 25: International Day to End Violence Against Women [link]
• December 1: World AIDS Day [link]
• December 6: National Day of Remembrance & Action on Violence Against Women [link] [link] [link]
• December 10: Human Rights Day

Other links pertaining to human rights:

• The People's Movement for Human Rights Education
• Human Rights Action
• Human Rights Education Associates
• UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

This WWA Page was made by
Roni
who first fell in love with AI
her freshmen year of high school.