Human Rights Day 2016: Stand up for someone's rights today!

In 1950, the Assembly passed a resolution inviting all States and interested organizations to observe 10 December of each year as Human Rights Day.

The  2016 theme urges everyone to step forward and defend the rights of a refugee or migrant, a person with disabilities, an LGBT person, a woman, a child, indigenous peoples, a minority group, or anyone else at risk of discrimination or violence.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said, "Upholding human rights is in the interest of all. Respect for human rights advances well-being for every individual, stability for every society, and harmony for our interconnected world."

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said, ""It’s time for each of us to step up for human rights. There is no action that is too small: wherever you are, you can make a difference. Together, let’s take a stand for more humanity."

Addressing the opening session of the first ever “Laureates and Leaders for Children Summit” on Saturday at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, President Pranab Mukherjee said, "It has become a tradition for the Nobel Peace Prize to be presented on the tenth of December. Also, on this day in 1948, the General Assembly of the United Nations had adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This day is celebrated every year as the Human Rights Day. I call upon this gathering to assimilate this day’s significance for humanity, in spirit."

"Let us commit ourselves to the noble task of fulfilment and protection of child rights everywhere," said President Mukherjee.

The National Human Rights Commission, India  organised a series of events in run up to the celebration of Human Rights Day, which culminated into a function in New Delhi on Saturday.

Image: UN Human Rights Twitter