December 10 is Human Rights Day, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights begins “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights” and continues to list the rights that should be granted all human beings, no matter their background-“regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.”
In this year of the Corona Virus and COVID-19 pandemic, the emphasis is rightfully on health and ensuring Human Rights are central to recovery efforts. Read more about these worthy goals, think about how they may apply to your community, and consider having a public reading of the UDHR-perhaps as a Zoom gathering!
https://www.un.org/en/observances/human-rights-day
Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places, close to home — so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any maps of the world. […] Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere. Without concerted citizen action to uphold them close to home, we shall look in vain for progress in the larger world.”
Eleanor Roosevelt
Links:
UN sites:
International Human Rights Law
Related sites:
World Day of Prayer and Action for Children
Lutheran resources:
Addressing Racism: Challenge for Peacemakers
Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service
ELCA:
Christianity and Human Rights (Journal of Lutheran Ethics)