All States and interested organizations were invited by the General Assembly in 1950 to observe 10 December as Human rights Day (
Resolution 423 (V)). The Day marks the anniversary of the Assembly's adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 and is the most important commemorative day of the human rights calendar.
Human Rights Day 2009 - the theme this year, designated by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is
embrace diversity, end discrimination. Discrimination is commonly defined as any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, gender, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Discrimination lies at the root of many of the world’s most pressing human rights issues and no country is immune from it. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights established 60 years ago states that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights”. Yet today, the fight against discrimination remains a daily struggle for millions around the globe.
Human Rights Day 2009 website (UN Department of Public Information)
Secretary-General's Human Rights Day message 2009Human Rights Day 2009 website (Office of the UN High Comissioner for Human Rights)UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay's message, 2009Embrace Diversity, End Discrimination - Fact SheetA two-minute video on non-discrimination by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights can be viewed on YouTube 9 December is the Anniversary of the adoption of the 1948 Genocide Convention. The following statement links to the theme of Human Rights Day 2009 - non-discrimination - saying, "genocide is often preceded by serious discriminatory practices and other human rights violations against the targeted groups".
Statement by Mr Francis Deng, the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide