AHRC Observes the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:

The American Human Rights Council (AHRC-USA) joins the global community in recognizing December 10, the annual Human Rights Day, marking the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). December 10 was declared by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948. It affirmed that human rights are universal and not optional. Human rights are inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to due to their humanity. This year’s theme is “Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for All.”

All members of the UN are bound by its Charter and Declarations. However, each member has flexibility in working toward the goals of the Charter and the Declarations.

This year’s occasion falls amidst immense challenges facing human rights across the world. Too many people are being denied their most basic human rights. Wars and armed conflicts have created an unprecedented number of humanitarian crises that often deprive people of their lives, let alone their basic rights such as freedom of speech and freedom of association. Millions are refugees or displaced, lacking the protection of citizenship. In the absence of citizenship rights, human rights provide a minimum level of rights that the refugees and displaced have. Unfortunately, too many countries are not living up to their obligations.

The biggest challenge to realizing human rights for everyone is that we often see selective attention to human rights, driven by political agendas and political expediency. Double standards have become the norm when it comes to human rights in certain parts of the world. This reality defeats the idea and the definition of the Universal declaration of human Rights.

When human rights are politicized, we all lose. Human rights are not a partisan or ideological issue. Human rights transcend borders and countries.

“We should always remember the word Universal in the Universal Declaration of human rights,” said Imad Hamad, AHRC Executive Director. “We should defend and protect the human rights of everyone, regardless of the identity of the victim or the identity of the perpetrator,” added Hamad.

https://www.un.org/en/observances/human-rights-day