Universal Human Rights Month

"The destiny of human rights is in the hands of all our citizens in all our communities."
— Eleanor Roosevelt

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 10, 1948, sets forth the fundamental rights and freedoms of every person on the face of the earth. Although the concept of universal human rights was first formed by 17th and 18th century philosophers, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is its first multinational declaration. Following this historic act, the Assembly called upon all member countries to publicize these intrinsic rights.

In 1949, a Presidential Proclamation declared December 10th to be National Human Rights Day. Its purpose is to distribute information about human rights throughout the world and to circulate copies of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in English and other languages.