Rajya Sabha marks Human Rights Day

Rajya Sabha marks Human Rights Day

Subject – Polity

Context – Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson opened proceedings by marking the 73rd anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The anniversary is celebrated across the world as Human Rights Day.

Concept –

• Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted on 10^th December in 1948, sets out, for the first time, the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.
• This year, the day focuses on the theme ‘Equality — Reducing inequalities, advancing human rights’, which aims to highlight principles of equality and non-discrimination as the core of human rights.
• There should be a human rights approach to development to reduce inequalities and discrimination, and to pave the way for equality, inclusion and sustainability.
• Hansa Jivraj Mehta, a leading freedom fighter and champion of women’s rights, was single-handedly responsible for amending a critical feature of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948 – sought a small amendment to Article 1 of the UDHR, which stated, “All men are born free and equal.”
  • After her recommendation, Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights read, “All human beings are born free and equal.”