HUMAN RIGHTS DAY 2015

Children skip rope outside.

Human Rights Day – 10 December

To promote and raise awareness of the two Covenants on their 50th anniversary, the UN Human Rights Office launched on Human Rights Day “Our Rights. Our Freedoms. Always.” a year-long campaign to shine a light on the inalienable and inherent rights of global citizens — now, and always.

“Our Rights. Our Freedoms. Always.” revolves around the timeless themes of rights and freedom and the relevance of the work that continues in securing and ensuring them. At its core, FREEDOM, underpins the International Bill of Human Rights – freedom from fear, freedom of speech, freedom of worship and freedom from want.

On Human Rights Day, the world was invited to join in celebrating 50 years of freedom as embodied in the International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). These four freedoms are as relevant today as they were when the Covenants were adopted.

Events in Geneva

The main event in Geneva took place on 16 December 2015 at the United Nations in the Palais des Nations. It included a photo exhibition featuring pictures depicting some of the different rights and freedoms, a reception and a monologue performed by critically acclaimed actor Daniel Brühl.

Other events included:

The Seventh Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot Court Competition: The competition was held from 8 to 10 December 2015 at Palais des Nations in Geneva. It 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).
The All Equal Cup: The All Equal Cup was a football match organized with the European Union, and the Permanent Missions of Greece and Slovakia, which used sport as a medium to promote fairness and fight discrimination. The match took place in Ariana Park, Palais des Nations on 10 December 2015.
Promoting tolerance, dispelling myths, protecting rights—an evidence-based conversation on migration: This panel discussion, which took place on 15 December 2015, was opened by UN Human Rights Chief Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein. It discussed how to deal with the trending topic of migration and the accompanying xenophobia taking place.