Human Rights Day
Human Rights Day is observed every year on 10 December – the day on which the United Nations General Assembly adopted, in 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights empowers us all. The principles enshrined in the Declaration are as relevant today as they were in 1948. We need to stand up for our own rights and those of others. We can take action in our own daily lives, to uphold the rights that protect us all and thereby promote the kinship of all human beings.
In December 1948, UNESCO was the first United Nations agency to place the Universal Declaration at the heart of all its action, to promote it across the world through education and the media.
Human rights gain new meaning when they become a reality in the daily life of every single person in the world. Bringing human rights home is at the core of UNESCO’s mission in all its fields of competence – education, science, culture and communication. In the context of the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), UNESCO brings to the fore the centrality of human rights protection in the history and the mandate of the Organization.
#StandUp4HumanRights #ItStartsWithMe
MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL
"Tomorrow, young people will take control of our societies and our planet. Tomorrow, they will take up the task of building a fairer and more sustainable world. However, in focusing on the future of these youth, we must not forget that they are entitled to inherit a world in which they can live – live well, and live decently. This is our duty – the duty we have as adults today. As Malala Yousafzai said, “Adults must understand that when young people speak up, they are thinking of their future.”"
— Audrey Azoulay, Director General of UNESCO
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WHAT UNESCO DOES FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
Join UNESCO’s #RightToEducation campaign
Education is a fundamental human right of every woman, man and child. Yet this right is still not a reality for millions and is violated every single day. This is unacceptable!
Join UNESCO’s #RightToEducation campaign and help spread the messages about this key human right with the power to transform lives around the world!
News
UNESCO adopts the first United Nations international treaty on higher education
UNESCO and OHCHR strengthen cooperation to advance human rights
UNESCO joins forces with the Inter-American Court of Human Rights to advance freedom of expression
Indigenous peoples’ right to education: Overview of measures reported by Member States
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
RESOURCES
- Resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly
- Resolution adopted by the UNESCO General Conference
- International Decade for People of African Descent (2015-2024)
- International Decade for the Rapprochement of Cultures (2013—2022)
- Memory of the World - Human Rights Day
- Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
- Fidelio - in this short animation, Leonore braves a thousand dangers to free her imprisoned lover (OperaVision and Belgian artist collective WALPURGI)
- UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence
- Human Rights: a thorny path, The UNESCO Courier, 2008
- Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights
- Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights
- Selection of UNESCO publications on Human rights and related themes
- UN website about this day
- All Commemorations