Human Rights Day

Human Rights Day is celebrated on 10 December every year. This day celebrates human rights, highlights specific issues, and advocates for the full enjoyment of all human rights by everyone, everywhere.

The United Nations General Assembly adopted on 10 December 1948 the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). This Universal Declaration is the first global enunciation of human rights and one of the first major achievements of the new United Nations.

On this day, there are high-level political conferences and meetings, cultural events and exhibitions about human rights, which are organised by governmental and non-governmental organisations active in the human rights area. Traditionally, on 10 December, the five-yearly United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights and Nobel Peace Prize are awarded. This year’s winner includes Liisa Kauppinen from Finland, President emeritus of the World Federation of the Deaf.

What are human rights? Human rights are inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being. Human rights are universal (applicable everywhere) and egalitarian (the same for everyone) and important for all persons. People have the right to life, freedom (from torture, slavery, for speech), fair trial, religion, movement, etc…

Human rights are important for Deaf persons too – Deaf persons are entitled to exercise civil, political, economic and cultural rights on an equal basis with everyone else. Deaf persons have right to use sign language, to have a sign language interpreter, to have bilingual education. They have right to life, study and work in another country, too. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) is also a human rights instrument.

EUD is working on the accessibility for Deaf people in all of Europe by informing and supporting the human rights of all Deaf persons.

Further links:

Human Rights Day:
http://www.un.org/en/events/humanrightsday/

United Nations’ website:
http://www.un.org/

United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities – in International Sign:
http://wfdeaf.org/human-rights/crpd

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights – text:
http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/index.shtml

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