On December 10th, the world will celebrate the Universal Day for Human Rights. Adopted in 1950, it proclaimed a common standard towards which individuals and societies should strive. It states that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights; that fundamental human rights shall be universally protected, covering all aspects of a human life – civil, cultural, economic, political and social. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was a shout across the world stating loud and clear that no matter where we live, what we believe, or how we love, we are each individually deserving of the most basic fundamentals of human needs from food, shelter, and water to access to free and uncensored information.
The responsibility to protect and respect Human Rights falls on all segments from States, international, national, state, local and our covenant with one another. As individuals, you and me – while we are entitled to our own human rights – have responsibilities for respecting the human rights of others.
Today, poverty prevails and so does the way we often look at and treat the other. Both are grave human rights challenges in the world. Combating poverty, deprivation and exclusion is not a matter of charity, and it does not depend on how rich a country is. By tackling poverty as a matter of human rights obligation, the world will have a better chance of abolishing this scourge in our lifetime... Poverty eradication is an achievable goal.
With information taken from the website of UDHR this year, Human Rights Day calls on everyone to stand up for someone's rights! It is everyone's responsibility to uphold human rights. Every one of us should take a stand. Step forward and defend the rights of a refugee or migrant, a person with disabilities, an LGBT person, a woman, an indigenous person, a child, a person of African descent, or anyone else at risk of discrimination or violence. Or, I might add, hunger.
With the upcoming of our season of giving we may consider advice from a man who gave us many laughs and heart warming lessons. Dr. Seuss once wrote: “What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store? What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more?” The Grinch had to learn the lesson the hard way, but at this time of year, are we guilty of the same? There might be another way of giving, wrapping it in love than in paper.
What’s a person To Do?
1. Get out there and make a difference, whether it’s holding open a door, making it easier for someone who is using a wheel chair to enter or refusing to listen to jokes or negative messages about groups of people.
2. Look around your neighborhood and see what you can do. Stand between a bully and a child who is being mistreated because of his or her size, looks or disability.
3. Read to a child or offer to shop for a neighbor who has problems getting to the store.
4. Make a donation to one of the dozens organizations that work to make people’s lives better or start your own drive to help organizations who are fighting the the rights of people and against hunger and poverty.
5. Pick up the trash that’s collecting on the street. Better still, make sure none of it’s yours.
6. Giving care packages of toothpaste, shampoo and other necessities for people who are without a home can go a long way to help fill human needs and change quality of life for someone.
7. Give time and money to organizations that work globally to help others or organize a donation drive of your own to help fight the good fight.
8. Most of all, if you see someone without a smile, give them one of yours.
Just a few ideas, but you get the point.
Dr. Rachell Anderson is a native of Tunica, a licensed Clinical Psychologist, a Professor Emeritus and author. She taught at the University of Illinois and ran a Private Clinical Practice in Springfield, Illinois for many years. She now lives in Tunica and writes with the Tunica Chapter of the Mississippi Writers Guild in Tunica, Mississippi. Check out her website at WWW.drrachellanderson.com for more articles and books.
The responsibility to protect and respect Human Rights falls on all segments from States, international, national, state, local and our covenant with one another. As individuals, you and me – while we are entitled to our own human rights – have responsibilities for respecting the human rights of others.
Today, poverty prevails and so does the way we often look at and treat the other. Both are grave human rights challenges in the world. Combating poverty, deprivation and exclusion is not a matter of charity, and it does not depend on how rich a country is. By tackling poverty as a matter of human rights obligation, the world will have a better chance of abolishing this scourge in our lifetime... Poverty eradication is an achievable goal.
With information taken from the website of UDHR this year, Human Rights Day calls on everyone to stand up for someone's rights! It is everyone's responsibility to uphold human rights. Every one of us should take a stand. Step forward and defend the rights of a refugee or migrant, a person with disabilities, an LGBT person, a woman, an indigenous person, a child, a person of African descent, or anyone else at risk of discrimination or violence. Or, I might add, hunger.
With the upcoming of our season of giving we may consider advice from a man who gave us many laughs and heart warming lessons. Dr. Seuss once wrote: “What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store? What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more?” The Grinch had to learn the lesson the hard way, but at this time of year, are we guilty of the same? There might be another way of giving, wrapping it in love than in paper.
What’s a person To Do?
1. Get out there and make a difference, whether it’s holding open a door, making it easier for someone who is using a wheel chair to enter or refusing to listen to jokes or negative messages about groups of people.
2. Look around your neighborhood and see what you can do. Stand between a bully and a child who is being mistreated because of his or her size, looks or disability.
3. Read to a child or offer to shop for a neighbor who has problems getting to the store.
4. Make a donation to one of the dozens organizations that work to make people’s lives better or start your own drive to help organizations who are fighting the the rights of people and against hunger and poverty.
5. Pick up the trash that’s collecting on the street. Better still, make sure none of it’s yours.
6. Giving care packages of toothpaste, shampoo and other necessities for people who are without a home can go a long way to help fill human needs and change quality of life for someone.
7. Give time and money to organizations that work globally to help others or organize a donation drive of your own to help fight the good fight.
8. Most of all, if you see someone without a smile, give them one of yours.
Just a few ideas, but you get the point.
Dr. Rachell Anderson is a native of Tunica, a licensed Clinical Psychologist, a Professor Emeritus and author. She taught at the University of Illinois and ran a Private Clinical Practice in Springfield, Illinois for many years. She now lives in Tunica and writes with the Tunica Chapter of the Mississippi Writers Guild in Tunica, Mississippi. Check out her website at WWW.drrachellanderson.com for more articles and books.
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