Rethinking everyday essentials on Human Rights Day

As the world celebrates Human Rights Day today, people across the world are sharing and rethinking what makes up their everyday essentials: the moments, values and rights that matter most, especially at this period of global turbulence.

Annually, the world commemorates this year’s Human Rights Day and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a day observed annually around the world on December 10 to mark the anniversary of one of the world’s most groundbreaking global pledges: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), a document that enshrines the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status, the focus is on what matters to individuals in their daily activities.

The Declaration was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on 10 December 1948 and sets out, for the first time, fundamental human rights to be universally protected.  And the declaration has been adjudged a “common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations” as a global blueprint for international, national and local laws and policies which is the bedrock of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development.

And today as the world celebrates this landmark event, attention is now on the basic requirements that make life easier on people of the world, the essentials that form the basic rights for all humans, irrespective of tribe, race, colour or status

The theme this year is Human Rights, Our Everyday Essentials and during this period of turbulence and unpredictability across the world, where it is normal for many feel a growing sense of insecurity, disaffection and alienation, the theme of Human Rights Day is to reaffirm the values of human rights and show that they remain a winning proposition for humanity.

This year’s celebration aims to re-engage people with human rights by showing how they shape daily lives of the people, often in ways people may not always notice. Too often taken for granted or seen as abstract ideas, human rights are the essentials we rely on every day.

By bridging the gap between human rights principles and everyday experiences, the commemoration aims to spark awareness, inspire confidence and encourage collective action via a campaign that emphasises that human rights are positive, essential and attainable.

The formal inception of Human Rights Day dates from 1950, after the Assembly passed resolution 423 (V) inviting all states and interested organisations to adopt 10 December of each year as Human Rights Day.

When the General Assembly adopted the Declaration, with 48 states in favor and eight abstentions, it was proclaimed as a “common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations”, towards which individuals and societies should “strive by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance”.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights sets out a broad range of fundamental rights and freedoms to which all of us are entitled. It guarantees the rights of every individual everywhere, without distinction based on nationality, place of residence, gender, national or ethnic origin, religion, language, or any other status.

Although the Declaration is not a binding document, it inspired more than 60 human rights instruments which together constitute an international standard of human rights. Today, the general consent of all United Nations Member States on the basic Human Rights laid down in the Declaration makes it even stronger and emphasises the relevance of Human Rights in our daily lives.

The High Commissioner for Human Rights, as the main United Nations rights official, and the Office of the High Commissioner play a major role in coordinating efforts for the yearly observation of Human Rights Day.