Stand up for human rights!

Human Rights Day is celebrated around the world to commemorate the proclamation of “The Universal Declaration of Human Rights” (UDHR) by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on December 10, 1948.

The UDHR is a milestone in the history of human rights. Drafted by representatives with different legal and cultural backgrounds from all regions of the world, it sets out a common standard of achievements for all peoples and all nations.

For the first time it recognized that fundamental human rights – regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status – must be universally protected.

Women shaped the Declaration

Eleanor Roosevelt, First Lady for the United States, served as the first Chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights and played an instrumental role in drafting the UDHR. Many other women also played an important role and these include Begum Shaista Ikramullah (Pakistan), Bodil Begtrup (Denmark), Evdokia Uralova (Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic), Marie-Hélène Lefaucheux (France), Minerva Bernardino (Dominican Republic), and Hansa Mehta and Lakshmi Menon (India).

Youth stand up for human rights

This year, we are called to "Stand Up for Human Rights" and to celebrate the potential of youth as agents of change, amplify their voices and engage a broad range of global audiences in the promotion and protection of rights. This year's campaign is designed to encourage, galvanize and showcase how youth all over the world stand up for rights and against racism, hate speech, bullying, discrimination, and climate change.

Your Human Rights & Diversity Committee

PIPSC is actively involved in protecting and promoting the human rights of its members and has established a Human Rights & Diversity Committee, to advise the Board of Directors on human rights, employment equity as well as diversity and inclusion. Learn more about their work in the Human Rights & Diversity Committee Report.

"The UDHR empowers us all. The principles remain as relevant or more today. We must stand up for our own rights and those of others every day. I encourage you to champion human rights in our workplace." encouraged Waheed Khan, PIPSC Chair of the Human Rights and Diversity Committee.

Read the PIPSC Pocket Guide on Human Rights and be a champion of human rights in your workplace. Take part online using #HumanRights and #StandUp4HumanRights on social media.