__________
About the Day
Promoting respect for human rights is a core purpose of the United Nations and defines its identity as an organization for people around the world. Member States have mandated the Secretary-General and the UN System to help them achieve the standards set out in the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. To do so, the UN System uses all the resources at its disposal, including its moral authority, diplomatic creativity and operational reach. Member States, however, have the primary responsibility for protecting human rights of their populations.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was adopted on 10 December 1948. The date has since served to mark Human Rights Day worldwide.
The High Commissioner for Human Rights, as the main UN rights official, and her Office play a major role in coordinating efforts for the yearly observance of Human Rights Day.
http://www.un.org/en/events/humanrightsday/2011/about.shtml
__________
2015 Human Rights Day Events
“Our rights, our freedoms, always”: Human Rights Day 2015
Human Rights Day 2015 celebrations are part of a commemoration of the upcoming anniversary of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR).
To date, the ICCPR and the ICESCR have been ratified by 168 and 164 States respectively since they were adopted 49 years ago. Human Rights Day marks the start of a year-long campaign to celebrate the coming half century of the two Covenants.
There will be events taking place in cities all over the world and online.
And today are the finals of the Seventh Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot Court Competition. The competition, which started on 8 December, brought together 45 participants from 15 universities representing all 5 United Nations regions of the World (Africa, Asia and the Middle East, Eastern Europe, South America and the Caribbean, Western Europe and other regions).
On 16 December is the launch of the two Covenants campaign. The event includes a photo exhibition and a performance on freedom. The event takes place at Palais des Nations.
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/HRD2015.aspx
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/HRDay2015/Pages/HRD2015.aspx
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/HRD2015.aspx
___________
2012 Events
http://www.un.org/en/events/humanrightsday/Google+ Hangouts
2011
http://www.un.org/en/events/humanrightsday/2011/index.shtml
