Human Rights Day 2024: Know the date, history, significance, and theme for this year

The world observes Human Rights Day every year on December 10 to raise awareness of the basic liberties and rights that every person is entitled to. Each individual has human rights that must be respected irrespectiveive of gender, nationality, ethnicity, race or religion.
The day gives an opportunity to recognise the work that has been done and what has to be done to protect everyone's rights. It is a reminder for a call to action, imploring governments, institutions and people everywhere to strive for equality, justice and the defence of human dignity.

Human Rights Day 2024: History

The United States General Assembly adopted the universal declaration of human rights on December 10, 1948. It is a landmark document that set the first global standard for the protection of human rights. The declaration mentioned a set of fundamental rights to which every person is entitled, including rights to life, liberty, education, work and freedom from discrimination.

The day was first celebrated in 1950 after the adoption of the UNDHR to honour the milestone and to get global attention to the struggle and recognition to protect human rights.

Human Rights Day 2024: Significance

The Human Rights Day is observed to remind that every person's rights must be respected and safeguarded. It aims to make people aware of their own rights and to take an active role in advancing equality and justice. Human rights activists also use this day to draw attention to current battles for freedom and dignity and to urge cooperation in addressing abuses.

Human Rights Day 2024: Theme

Every year there is a specific theme for Human Rights Day that highlights on a pressing human rights issue that requires global attention. The theme for Human Rights Day 2024 is ‘Equality for All: Reducing Inequality and Advancing Human Rights.’

Human Rights Day 2024: Quotes

"The rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened." – John F. Kennedy

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." – Martin Luther King Jr.

"To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity." – Nelson Mandela

"Human rights are not a privilege granted by the government. They are every human being’s entitlement by virtue of his humanity." – Mother Teresa

"The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything." – Albert Einstein