Dec 9, 2008

Human Rights Day 2008

Happy Human Rights Day. Happy 60th anniversary of the universal declaration of human rights! Today is the birthday of the UDHR, that magnificent document that spells out right for all humans. The language is not perfect but considering that it was written in 1948 and that it would not be signed by many countries these days, it will have to do.

It is one of the most translated documents in the world. Currently is has been translated into 337 languages. Have you signed it? You might want to do that now.

Amazingly, human rights means rights for humans regardless of gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, skin colour, religion, gender identity, disabilities, economic status, body, legal status etcetera.

The UDHR has been signed by many countries but human rights abuses happen in every country. Yeah really. Have you ever been
  • Denied the right to marry your partner?
  • Subject to abuse because of your identity?
  • Denied medical care?
  • Denied birth control?
  • Suffered from discrimination?
  • Denied a purchase or rental property because of your sexual orientation?
  • Suffered gender or gender orientated violence?
Then your human rights have been abused. As with many things, knowledge is power. Get to know the UDHR, it may come in handy. Here's a link to posters, info sheets and more.

What you can do now...

Think you're a smart ass? Test your knowledge

Sign up to volunteer and call in gay



Watch this then sign here.

Just do something. Remember that these are our rights and they must be guarded.

They came first for the Communists, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist; And then they came for the trade unionists, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist; And then they came for the Jews, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew; And then they came for me... And by that time there was no one left to speak up.


Human rights are everybody's rights. You do not get to pick and choose. You do not get to take away other people's rights. Stand up for your rights. Stand up for my rights. Stand up for our rights.

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