Category: International Days

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Human Rights Day

by davidsimmonsphd, posted in International Days

After the Second World War, the need for a strong front on the issue of protecting humans and their rights, also to stop another war from happening was a must need.  United Nations main focus was to do something regarding the preservation of human rights. In 1948, a new declaration “Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was formed by the General assembly. They declared that the respect for human rights and human dignity was laid into the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world. Following, all states were invited by the general assembly and through the resolution of 423(V), they made December 10 as the day for human rights. United Nations recognized December 10 as the “human rights day.”

They day was decreed as a “common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations.” 10 December marks the anniversary of the united nation’s adoption of the UDHR (Universal Declaration of Human rights) in 1948. The General Assembly adopted this declaration with the consent of 48 nations, while 8 of them refusing to vote in favor. The declaration meant as a tool for individuals and societies to strive by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance.” The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was not only catering to the needs and rights of human beings, it also inspired more than 50 human rights instruments which all together constitute an standard international human rights.

It is a continuous process that is up and running from the day UDHR was declared. The process of developing different mechanism and processes to ensure the importance of human rights and to confront head on the violation against it, wherever they occur in the world. Today, the components laid down in the declaration, agreed by all the states, makes it even rigorous and emphasize the relevance of human rights in the lives of people everywhere, the need for it is so evident throughout the world.

Human Rights Day is not only a mere celebration for the people around the world, but it is also important for the United Nations, as they conduct cultural events and exhibitions and conferences dealing with the issue of human rights and its violations. Another tradition that is been happening from 1968, is the United Nations Prize in the field of Human Rights. It is awarded in a five-year interval basis. Nobel peace prizes are also awarded on this day. Although many governmental and non-governmental organizations commemorate this day by organizing different events and occasions, the nation of South Africa celebrates this day on the 21st of March, in remembrance of the Sharpeville massacre.

Human rights day is celebrated around the world to spread awareness among people about their rights. Social organizations around the world engage in events of debate and awareness to spread the rights of human beings. The UN Secretary-General did a year-long campaign on the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 2008. On the anniversary, Amnesty International organized a large event to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Many celebrations also took place in different parts of the world, such as Cambodia, where 5000 people released balloons. The declaration has been translated into 360 languages, a world record, making it easier in spreading awareness to people about their rights as humans.   

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There had been important observances of human rights day in the past. One of which is the 1979 Kaohsiung incident. The incident was a demonstration against the one-party rule of China. Shih Ming-teh organized an event that resulted in the arrest of political opponents of the ruling party of that time. Similarly, in 2004, the inter-American Commission on Human Rights, along with the UN’s Special Representative for Human Rights Defenders and African Union’s Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights issued a joint report in which they demanded the European Union adopt its set of guidelines for protecting human rights and urged other nations to do the same.

In 2008, 300 people in China signed an online petition titled ‘Charter 08’ for the government, ordering them to improve the human rights situation in the country. As a result, many people were arrested and detained following the online petition.

The office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) acts as the forefront for the world community, in their strive against the protection and preservation of humans and their rights. The OHCHR is led by the Commissioner for Human Rights, who is the dean of human rights official of the United Nations.

The human rights day is a special to those people who are still fighting for their rights. Their struggle towards their freedom is what this human rights day is all about. Even though, as humans, we have come a long way in our fight against the rights and values. We have always strive to perfect our morality, our values etc. to create the best possible world for us. Creating systems and institution to be as equal as possible. But there is still a lot of work to do. There are still people belonging from different religion, genders and sexual orientations demanding the justice and freedom they deserve.

Women have been actively participating in their struggle against the tyrannical system of power. The history is filled with great sacrifices and movement of feminism towards equality and equity among both the genders. The first wave of the feminist movement enabled women to vote for the first time. It also enabled them to buy property and other basic rights. The human rights day embodies these sacrifices of striving towards equality and equity.

The modern-day feminism is now helping not only the women of our times but also the LGBTQ+ community. Feminism has helped and still is helping LGBTQ+ community towards their struggle of rights and freedom. They are constantly helping a young queer generation to come out of their closet by removing the attached stigmas that surround them. As a result, there is less the pressure of coming out now then it was before.

Different NGOs and social organization also work towards organizing marches and campaigns for the rights of children. Tackling different issues like child labor and the psychological impact of child labor. Constantly fighting to spread awareness about it in the third world countries, where this norm of child labor is most prevelant.

To celebrate this day, different schools, colleges, and universities hold events and debates to spread awareness about human rights. Students are made to write the importance of human rights according to them and the importance of human rights day celebration. If you are a law student, struggling to write an informed essay on laws and rights of human rights, there are several websites offering the best essay writing service UK there is. You can easily get a professional’s help in writing your human rights day essay. As a whole, we should all celebrate this day to remind ourselves of the sacrifices and struggles we as human beings made towards the betterment of the world.

United Nations Day and Its History

by davidsimmonsphd, posted in International Days

October 24 marks the celebration of a day known as United Nations Day. United Nation is an organization that helps countries to develop friendly relations with other countries, bring international peace and harmony, and to achieve international cooperation. United Nations Day commemorates all the hard and honorable work this organization has done in order to promote peace around the world. Around the world events are held in regard to United Nation Organization.

There is an interesting history behind the formation and celebration of United Nations Day. After World War I, it was decided that a treaty was needed to be found to avoid another war, so the treaty of Versailles came into existence. The treaty was signed on 28th of June, 1919 in Versailles, France and it was essentially meant to be League of Nations that will try to prevent further outbreaks of war, and to promote diplomatic relations and to encourage negotiations between countries. It was also said to improve the quality of life for people all around the world. Unfortunately, League of Nations failed to do its job, and failed to prevent another world war, resulting in the commencement of World War II. So it was decided that a different approach is needed to tackle the issue of countries’ war mongering nature.

Towards the end of World War II, the idea of the “United Nations” came into existence, after the demise of League of Nation. Hence, the United Nations birthed its existence on October 24, 1945. It was after three years that in 1948, U.N observed the United Nations Day for the first time. However, it was 1971, that the United Nations Day was set as an international holiday by a resolution of U.N and was required to be celebrated by all the members of United Nation.

Today, United Nations Day commemorates all that U.N stand for in the world. It helps countries and their people to remember the four main purposes of the United Nations.

  1. To maintain peace and security around the world
  2. To develop relationships among member nations
  3. Promote an atmosphere of communication and dialogue between nations.
  4. Provide a forum to bring countries together to meet the purposes and goals of the United Nation.

United Nations is also creating awareness about “languages endangerment and the need to safeguard the world’s linguistic diversity.” The UN is very concerned with languages: one of its most important projects aims at language preservation and it is called “World Languages in Danger.” The United Nations declared 2019 to be “The Year of Indigenous Languages.” The reason for it is to raise awareness about the importance of languages and their contributions towards a diverse culture. Languages are dying, and UN is trying to save them.

United Nations Day Customs & Traditions

United Nations Day is traditionally celebrated with a wide range of displays, discussion groups, debates, and meetings. Activities which honor the achievements of U.N and events that helps U.N to lay out their goals. However, this holiday has an even greater purpose – as embodied by the people who celebrate it. For example, many schools, colleges, or universities celebrate this day by honoring their foreign students. Celebrating their diversity and their culture by hosting different events and segments that include dancing, presentation, music and food from different countries.

In a state like Kosovo, United Nations Day is celebrated as an official non-working day. In Philippines, school children will often dress themselves in the costumes of the countries in which they come from, in order to celebrate the day. In United States of America, the president will issue a declaration recognizing United Nations Day, this has been the trend since 1946.

How You Can Celebrate United Nations Day

People from all around the world celebrate the United Nations Day with all their might. They celebrate it by not only showing pride in their own cultural traditions, but they also try to learn and support other cultures. If you are a student, maybe your essay assignments are in your way into celebrating United Nations Day. You can seek help from various websites that offer the best essay help there is, so you can easily enjoy and celebrate the United Nations Day. Here are some of the ways you can follow to celebrate the United Nations Day.

  1. You can host a speaker at your school who will highlight what the United Nations is about and what they stand for. Also, highlights the works and achievements of the united Nation. You can think about ways to incorporate this into an academic department, or try to collaborate with a student organization.
  2. Arrange a projector at your school, have UN issue related documentaries and show them to students. Doing this will enlighten them with the works and issues United Nation are striving against.
  3. Since this year’s theme of United Nations Day 2019 is “Our Planet. Our Future,” you can plant trees and plants and hold tree planting events at your school, college or university.
  4.  You can hold united nation day round table discussion on international youth issues. Students from different backgrounds can use this platform to share their stories and diversity.
  5. You can decorate your building, hostels, or university’s building in blue and white to promote United Nation awareness.
  6. You can collaborate with different student body organizations to host an event in which different cultures are appropriately represented. The students can wear their national dress, representing their culture and heritage.
  7. You can hold debates in your universities, giving voice to different debaters.
  8. You can arrange a setting in which you can host a discussion featuring and elected officials who are running for their local state, or national office to voice their views on United Nations and international politics. This will give you a brief understanding in the prospects of UN, as well as the candidate’s.
  9. You can honor a local leader or entrepreneur and their commitment towards the United Nation’s sustainable development goals.
  10. You can hold fundraisers in your school, colleges and universities and collect funds and donations. You can donate to United Nation Foundation, or you can choose a charity organization of your own choice.