by Rebecca Carvalho

Created on: November 30, 2009

The Human Rights Day is celebrated world-wide on December 10th. Following the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Rights, the United Nations asks that every year all nations should celebrate this day, and this year's theme is "All humans are born free and equal in dignity and rights".

Genocide, racial discrimination, human trafficking - most of us only heard about these issues from what we heard on TV or read in the newspapers. Many people out there, though, from every continent on Earth, are the ones who inspired this news. They are real people, with real stories of lives that experienced unfair judgement. They could be living in your city, or even next door to you. If you feel frustrated and powerless before these cases of prejudice and misconception, consider advocating for non-discrimination. Human Rights Day will give you an opportunity.

The UN website offers a variety of ideas on programs and other campaigns, ranging from general activities, such as "sports competitions around a non-discrimination theme", to ideas designed for governments and local authorities to encourage them to "inaugurate an annual award for national / local human rights defenders combating discrimination". You also might want to consider joining the UN website and and using their visual designs. You can find them in English, French, and Spanish; though you can also translate them into your language. You will able to download materials on discrimination, and submit your own stories to the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights website.

On December 10th help your your community learn more about human rights. If you do not have time to elaborate a big activity, consider getting together with your family and friends for a meal followed by discussions on the topic of human rights. It also is important to teach children lessons on respecting each other, and they will grow up more conscious citizens of the world. If you have a blog consider posting on the topic and starting fund-raising campaigns advocating for NGOs and other institutions with focus on human rights. You might want to contact universities and other groups spread around the world, and exchange ideas on programs that could be joined. Any activity with the non-discrimination theme is welcomed by the United Nations, which wants to help promote understanding and a strong sense that all human beings are equal. The end of the battle might be far, but every step forward counts.

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