By NACDD Public Policy Intern, Ada Chung
The National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD) joins The United Nations in commemorating Human Right Day. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UNDHR) states that in order for the world to have freedom, justice, and peace, EVERY human being, including people with disabilities, must be respected equally. No one person or group should take it upon themselves to destroy the rights of another human being.
Human Rights Day is an international day of commemoration on December 10th. This day observes the United Nations General Assembly’s proclamation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). UDHR was the first universal document that proclaimed the inalienable rights that humans are entitled to regardless of race, religion, sex, language, disability, etc. The UDHR contains a total of thirty articles protecting human rights including the right to life, equal protection under the law, and freedom of expression. For 2020 the theme of Human Rights Day relates to the COVID-19 pandemic and focuses on the need to build back better by ensuring that Human Rights are central to recovery efforts.
The UDHR has had a wide influence on the global community as it has been translated into over 500 different languages. The aim of the UDHR is to protect the dignity and equality of all humans. Today is a day to reemphasize the importance of human rights both within and outside of the American disability community.
