Know Your Rights: Why is December 10 celebrated as Human Rights Day

Human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, whatever our nationality, place of residence, sex, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, language, or any other status. We are all equally entitled to our human rights without discrimination. These rights are all interrelated, interdependent and indivisible.

The idea that human beings should have a set of basic rights and freedoms has deep roots in Britain. Landmark developments in Britain include the Magna Carta of 1215, the Habeas Corpus Act of 1679 and the Bill of Rights of 1689.

Why is Dec 10 celebrated as Human Rights Day

Universal human rights are often expressed and guaranteed by law, in the forms of treaties, customary international law , general principles and other sources of international law. International human rights law lays down obligations of Governments to act in certain ways or to refrain from certain acts, in order to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms of individuals or groups.

The world celebrates 10th December as Human Rights Day. This day is celebrated internationally to honor 10th Dec 1948, when the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights at Palais de Challoit, Paris after the experience of the Second World War. 

This was one of the first milestones achieved by the United Nations since its inception in 1945. Universal Declaration of Human Rights is also one of the world's most translated document into more that 360 language versions and also holds a world record for this.

The formal establishment of Human Rights Day occurred at the 317th Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly on 4 December 1950, when the General Assembly declared resolution 423(V), inviting all member states and any other interested organizations to celebrate the day as they saw fit.

The day is normally marked both by high-level political conferences and meetings and by cultural events and exhibitions dealing with human rights issues. In addition it is traditionally on 10 December that the five-yearly United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights and Nobel Peace Prize are awarded.