Human Rights Day celebrated today

On December 10 the whole world celebrates the Human Rights Day, which was founded by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1950. It was on this very day in 1948 that the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, while two years later this day became a holiday.

The resolution of the United Nations of December 10 1950 invites all member states to annually provide reports on the Human Rights Day celebration. Thus the United Nations aims to achieve implementation of principles stated in the declaration worldwide. The declaration itself was translated into 360 as a proof of its universal nature.

Russia has been celebrating this holiday since 1977, however at that time it had a strongly marked dissident nature. Since 1977 human rights advocates had been holding a “Rally of Silence” in Pushkin Square. As for now on this day since 2001 Russia has been holding Andrei Sakharov award ceremony "For journalism as a deed".

Regarding South Africa, the Human Rights Day is celebrated here on the day of beginning of the Week of Solidarity with the peoples struggling against racism and racial discrimination – on March 21.