Universal Human Rights Month - December 2022

In 1948, with the memory of World War II still fresh, the United Nations crafted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The very first article states: All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood. The document goes on to define what human rights should be respected and protected universally, as well as emphasizing how important it is to do so. 

One of the most important things you can do throughout the course of this month – and beyond into next year – is to find common ground with the people around you. Human Rights Month is about acknowledging that people of different cultures and creeds are still people. We must be careful of differentiating ourselves from our fellow humans so much that we forget this core truth. Take the time to learn about another culture that is different from yours. If that culture makes you nervous, so much the better. The Dignity & Respect Campaign has some wonderful resources on how to go about this.

By learning about other people and standing up for their rights you encourage equality, justice, and freedom. These values are antithetical to human and labor trafficking. For more information about Universal Human Rights Month, International Human Rights Day, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights click here: Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Ways to Observe Human Rights Month

• Reread the Bill of Rights – Research what these freedoms mean to you. 
• Do Some Volunteering – Organizations such as Amnesty International (a charity that works to support and spread awareness of human rights) are always looking for volunteers.
• Give Back to Your Community – Help those who are hurting in your own community.

Why Universal Human Rights Month is Important

• It Allows Us to Reflect and look back on the ways we’ve treated our fellow human beings.
• It Reminds Us of Our Ideals which include individual freedoms which we must fight to protect.
• It Empowers Us to stand up for ourselves, our own rights, and the rights of others.

*Information sourced from:

https://nationaltoday.com/universal-human-rights-month/

http://www.endslaverynow.org/act/action-library/celebrate-universal-human-rights-month

Image: Eleanor Roosevelt holding poster of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (in English), Lake Success, New York. November 1949.