The 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

The 70^th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on the 10^th of December 1948, the day of proclamation is being celebrated as the Human Rights Day every year. In 2018 we will celebrate the 70^th anniversary of the Declaration.

The text of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

To highlight what the Universal Declaration means for people in their everyday lives, UN Human Rights is launching a year-long campaign on 10 December, Human Rights Day 2017 that will culminate in the actual occasion of the Declaration’s 70th anniversary celebration on the same day next year. The campaign has three core objectives: to promote, engage and reflect. The aim is to engage a broad base of audiences the world over; to help promote understanding of how the Universal Declaration empowers us all; and encourage further reflection on the ways that each of us can stand up for rights, every day.

The UDHR empowers us all: It establishes the equal dignity and worth of every person. It confirms that the State has a core duty to promote standards of life that enable us to exercise our dignity and equality, in larger freedom. 

Human rights are relevant for all of us, every day. Human rights include our rights to freedom from fear and from want, freedom to speak up, rights to health and education; and to enjoy the benefits of measures to advance economic and social justice.

Ours is a shared humanity rooted in these universal values. We are inter-connected.  These human rights that we have in common, solidarity with each other and fulfilment of human rights responsibilities are what bind us together on our shared planet.

Equality, justice and freedom prevent violence and sustain peace. Respect for human rights, and sound, impartial rule of law to resolve disputes are at the core of development and peace.

Whenever and wherever humanity's values are abandoned, we all are at greater risk.   We are at a crossroads. Attacks on human rights by people who want to profit from hatred and exploitation erode freedom and equality locally and globally. This can be, must be, resisted.

We need to stand up for our rights and those of others. Each of us can stand up.  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.

Thematic webpage of the campaign

The Office of the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights is happy to join the celebration on the occasion of the 70^th anniversary and invite entries for the following competitions:

Call for papers for students participating in university education (B.A./M.A./Ph.D.) - Hungarian