Human Rights Day 2021: Date, theme, significance, famous quotes & all you need to know

Every year across the world, Human Rights Day is observed on December 10 to increase awareness about the fact that every person on the planet has fundamental rights. The Human Rights Day is marked to promote the individuals rights, regardless of religion, gender, race, caste, ethnicity, colour, nationality or other considerations.

The day also commemorates the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10 in 1948 by the United Nations General Assembly. It is considered to be the very first worldwide declaration on human rights, outlining the equally guaranteed fundamental rights for humankind. Moreover, it protects the rights of all citizens worldwide. The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) enacted Resolution 423 (V) in 1950 as the formal inception of the day, asking all governments and interested groups to observe Human Rights Day on December 10 every year. 

Human Rights Day theme

The theme for this year's Human Rights Day is "Equality", as stated in Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights -- "All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights." The theme entails, among other things, confronting and resolving deep-seated discrimination which has harmed society's most vulnerable individuals, such as women and girls, native communities, citizens of African origin, LGBTI individuals, immigrants, as well as people with disabilities. Equality, inclusiveness, and non-discrimination, or a human rights-based developmental model, are the most effective ways to minimise inequities and re-establish the progress toward the 2030 Agenda, as per the UN report.  

Human Rights Day significance

Amid the COVID pandemic crisis, Human Rights Day has become significantly important to urge for eradication of exacerbated poverty, increased inequality, discrimination, and other societal evils. The United Nations also encourages governments throughout the world to establish equal opportunity for all individuals on this day and to protect their rights. The humanitarian agencies also have the authority to investigate and offer suggestions in cases of human rights breaches. 

Human Rights Day quotes

A right delayed is a right denied: Martin Luther King 

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights: Eleanor Roosevelt 

Human rights are not privileged conferred by the government. They are human being’s entitled by virtue of their humanity: Mother Teresa 

To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity: Nelson Mandela 

The right to life is the first among human rights: Pope Francis 

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