Our Rights, Our Future: Honouring Human Rights Day
Dec 12, 2024 | Ishmael Van Der Rassel, Student Storyteller
Human Rights Day was celebrated and recognized by governments worldwide on December 10th. Every year, this day is celebrated to honor the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948. The declaration says that every person has the fundamental rights including right to equality, right to life, right to liberty and security of the person. This also includes right to religion, freedom of speech and the right to participate in the cultural life of the community.
In 1950, The UN General Assembly, adopted the declaration as a “common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations”, towards all people and communities are to strive by progressive measures, national and international security universally and recognition of their existence. This landmark agreement enshrines inalienable right to all human beings regardless of their race, colour, sex, language, political, nationality, social origin, property, birth, sexual orientation or culture.
Human Rights are fundamental part of society, and we must never back down. We must always speak truth to power regardless of the cost, stand up for others, stand up to oppression and hold governments and institutions accountable no matter what.
Human Rights Day is an opportunity for you to learn more about how you can be a voice for human rights and equality like reading the Canadian Charter of Right and Freedoms, Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, Royal Commission on Aboriginal People, UN Human Rights Declaration and Canadian Museum for Human Rights.
This year’s focus is a call to acknowledge the importance of protecting fundamental human rights in peoples' everyday lives and an opportunity to speak out against inequality, hate, countering misinformation and strengthening the global movement for human rights.