by Amanda Ong
This Friday is Human Rights Day — the international celebration of the United Nations General Assembly's proclamation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on Dec. 10, 1948. The declaration has been recognized as the first international delineation of standards for the protection of fundamental human rights, including freedom, justice, equity, education, and standard of living. It has since been foundational to more than 70 human rights treaties and is the most translated declaration in the world, having been translated into over 500 languages.
But not only do few of us celebrate this date, but many of us have also never read or really considered the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. These kinds of charters and declarations might make human rights feel academic and abstract, but really "human rights" reflect simple values that we can, and should, live every day.
Though Human Rights Day is an international event, change always begins in our own communities. The fight to preserve human rights is rooted in our South Seattle neighborhoods. The Seattle Human Rights Commission itself is a living reaction to the history of human rights violations in Seattle, when in 1963 activists protested housing segregation in the city. In response, the Human Rights Commission was created — with the original purpose to ban racial discrimination in housing. Almost 60 years later, these kinds of human rights violations — and the fight against them — continue in our communities through gentrification and displacement.
And the fight to uphold human rights in our communities continues. Still we see police brutality and the murder of innocent Black folks and have watched as our justice system refuses to stand by BIPOC. We see the crisis of our neighbors left houseless and the inequities in our Native communities whose land we stand on. We hear that a staggering 94% of Native women in Seattle have reported being raped in their lifetime. And in the pandemic, we have borne witness to a surge of hate crimes, medical racism, and sexism. Today is a day to acknowledge, and remind ourselves of, our values and to march forward towards our goals of a more equitable world.
We here in Seattle have a unique responsibility towards human rights justice in our community. Since 2012, Seattle has been a "Human Rights City." Few cities have such a designation. The title demonstrates a commitment to incorporate the universal human rights principles, stated in the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights, into a city's operations, interactions, values, and model for governing and administration. This means ensuring clean water, healthy food, affordable housing, health care, due process, access to education, employment opportunity — and notably, respect, for all of its citizens.
There are still far stretches we have to cross and work that we must do. A recent report by the Seattle Human Rights Commission analyzed Seattle's self-designation as a Human Rights City and made several recommendations towards creating human rights networks, greater accountability, infrastructure, and humanization and prevention of houselessness. On an individual level, these require structural changes we cannot control as individuals. Sometimes our best is simply to stay informed, to honor our values, and to push for the issues that show kindness to all in our human family. Sometimes the best we can do is to donate to organizations like Real Rent Duwamish, El Centro de la Raza, Black Lives Matter King County, and API Chaya. Or sometimes our best is to sit down and remind ourselves what our commitment to human rights means.
In that spirit, the Bainbridge Island Senior Center is also hosting a virtual reading of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights this Human Rights Day, Dec. 10, at 11:30 a.m. The Seattle Human Rights Commission also hosted their annual Human Rights Day event this past Thursday, "Overcoming Hate: Reflections on Healing Post-9/11." Each year, the Seattle Human Rights Commission also accepts nominations for Human Rights Awards for local individuals, organizations, and coalitions. Last year, South Seattle Emerald founder and publisher Marcus Harrison Green was awarded as their 2020 Individual Human Rights Leader Award.
Included below is the English text for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, with all of its translations included on the website for the United Nations Office of the Commission of Human Rights. May we read them, take from them what we will, and carry them with us in our lives and work.
Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,
Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people,
Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law,
Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations,
Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,
Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in cooperation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms,
Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge,
Now, therefore,
The General Assembly,
Proclaims this Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.
Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.
No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.
No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.
All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.
Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.
Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.
Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality.
Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.
Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized.
Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.
The South Seattle Emerald is committed to holding space for a variety of viewpoints within our community, with the understanding that differing perspectives do not negate mutual respect amongst community members.
The opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints expressed by the contributors on this website do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints of the Emerald or official policies of the Emerald.
Amanda Ong (she/her) is a Chinese American writer from California. She is a recent graduate of the University of Washington museology master's program and graduated from Columbia University in 2020 with degrees in creative writing and ethnicity and race studies.
Featured image by Jacob_09/Shutterstock.com.
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