60th Anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights
On 10 December 1948 in Paris, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The Declaration showed a determination of nations to prevent future human rights violations as perpetrated during World War II through non-discrimination, equality and fairness. This was the first international recognition that all human beings have fundamental rights and freedoms and last month, the UDHR celebrated it’s sixtieth anniversary.
In response to this anniversary, UDHR celebrations were held in more than 28 nations. These events were aimed at bringing about greater awareness of basic human rights and human rights violations across the globe. The Department of Education of Taiwan talked about human rights education in Taipei and played public service announcements depicting the 30 articles of the UDHR to elementary school students. Dignitaries and volunteers in Taichung and Kaoshiung pledged to improve human rights education. In Melbourne and Sydney, thousands participated in concerts celebrating the anniversary. In Johannesburg, youth officials held a summit discussing the implementation of the Universal Declaration in South Africa. In Brussels, a celebratory concert was organised and was attended by European Union officials and members of the diplomatic corps, including eight ambassadors and concerned civil society organisations. The global response to this anniversary shows that the UDHR was a landmark document that continues to be relevant and a source of inspiration today.
