International Day of Human Rights
On December 10, 1948, United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. On Tuesday, December 10<span>th</span>&nbsp;the UN will celebrate the International Day of Human Rights.
A human right is a fundamental right, especially with those believed to belong to an individual and in whose exercise a government may not interfere with, such as the rights to speak, associate, work, etc.
While human rights around the world are still developing, since 1993 the United Nations has made remarkable progress internationally. In 1976, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights was put into effect, and its Optional Protocol in 2013.T This document contains five parts and thirty one total articles. Part One recognizes the right of self-determination, Part Two establishes the principle of “progressive realization”, Part Three lists the actual rights themselves, Part Four governs reporting and monitoring of the Covenant and finally, Part Five governs ratification and amendments to the Covenant.
This accomplishment alone symbolizes the progressiveness that our world is transitioning to. No longer are we going to be a nation that stands on racism and hatred, rather through the United Nation’s hard work, we are seeing countries changed and people given tangible hope.
It is easy to overlook the value of a human right in a country like affluent America. As I type this, I am in my warm pajamas, with the heater on full blast and my belly full from a warm, nutritious dinner. However, for millions of people living in a developing nation, this is the opposite. Most live off of one pair of clothing that, because of the lack of clean water, remains unwashed. Their only hope to remain warm in a cold winter is a torn and ragged blanket, in which families share together; and food is a valuable rarity.
This Human Rights Day, take some time to remember how much you are blessed with things that are easy to overlook. Let’s remember the unreached peoples of the world, and one day, stand up to create nations of prosperity, equality, and peace.