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The World - Special Dates - December 10

December 10 – Human Rights Day

Combating discrimination against indigenous peoples, against migrants, against minorities, against people with disabilities, against women, racial discrimination... Human rights by topic external link at the Amnesty International website.

Human Rights Day 2010 external link (UNESCO)

The theme for Human Rights Day 10 December 2010 is human rights defenders who act to end discrimination.
Human rights defenders acting against discrimination, often at great personal risk to both themselves and their families, are being recognized and acclaimed on this day.

Human rights defenders speak out against abuse and violations including discrimination, exclusion, oppression and violence.  They advocate justice and seek to protect the victims of human rights violations.  They demand accountability for perpetrators and transparency in government action.  In so doing, they are often putting at risk their own safety, and that of their families.

Some human rights defenders are famous, but most are not. They are active in every part of the world, working alone and in groups, in local communities, in national politics and internationally.

Human Rights Day 2010 will highlight and promote the achievements of human rights defenders and it will again emphasize the primary role Governments must play in enabling and protecting their role. The Day is also intended to inspire a new generation of defenders to speak up and take action to end discrimination in all of its forms whenever and wherever it is manifested.

The story does not end after 10 December 2010.  The focus on the work of human rights defenders will continue through all of 2011.

The UN Human Rights office can assist you build your own campaigns for 10 December and the year to follow.

 

Resources

link Universal Declaration of Human Rights external link
link Human Rights Day 2007 external link (United Nations)
link 15 Steps to Protect Women's Human Rights external link (Amnesty International)
link Women's Watch external link (United Nations)
link Women Human Rights Defenders external link (Watch a 4' video "Celebrating Women's Resistance")

Watch here Peter Gabriel talking about "Witness"

Human Rights Defenders Speak Up Against Discrimination
Watch this 8-minute video presenting human rights defenders from all over the world

Sharing good ideas everywhere we are...

 

If you are interested in this topic, you might be interested in reading Protection International's "New Protection Manual for Human Rights Defenders" external link (The translation into Spanish is mine, and I use non-sexist language)

Women Human Rights Defenders