How Nashville celebrated the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Dec. 10 marked International Human Rights Day.
The day the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was adopted by the United Nations on Dec. 10, 1948.
The UDHR, its preamble and 30 articles, represent the universal recognition that basic rights and fundamental freedoms are inherent to all human beings, inalienable and equally applicable to everyone, and that every person is born free and equal in dignity and rights.
The UDHR strengthened the human rights movement and was the first time in history the United Nations outlined universal civil, political, social, economic, and cultural rights for all human beings. It has been translated into over 500 languages and has inspired more than seventy human rights treaties in existence today.
Each year human rights advocates around the world celebrate International Human Rights Day. This year commemorated the 75th anniversary that the Declaration was established, and the theme was “Dignity, Justice and Freedom for All.”
Tennesseans celebrated International Human Rights Day on Dec. 6 from at the Nashville Church of Scientology Community Hall.
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Honorees included leaders Ludye Wallace and Martesha Johnson Moore
At the Tennessee Celebration for International Human Rights, Day, individuals were honored for their commitment to advancing human rights. Honorees included:
The 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award: Former Metro Council Member, Ludye Wallace, for serving his Davidson County community for nearly 30 years.
The 2023 Outstanding Service Award: Tamika Braden, founder and executive director of the HELP Center; Jenn Garcia, vice president of action, advocacy and education with the Oasis Center; Martesha Johnson Moore, Chief Public Defender at the Metro Public Defender’s Office; and Kelly Sue Waller, director of Southern Crossroads.
The 2023 Rising Advocate Award: Kosar Kosar, organizer with the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition; Zacnite Vargas, president of the Tennessee Chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses.
Tennesseans can promote dignity for all neighbors
The event also featured special guest speakers on the theme of “Dignity, Justice and Freedom for All.”
Speakers included Samar Ali, research professor of political science and law at Vanderbilt University, and Rabbi Michael Danziger, Senior Rabbi at The Temple.
In honor of Human Rights Day, Eleanor Roosevelt stated, “Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places, close to home – so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any maps of the world. Such are the places where every man, woman, and child seek equal justice, equal opportunity, equal dignity without discrimination. Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere. Without concerned citizen action to uphold them close to home, we shall look in vain for progress in the larger world.”
Whether advocating for the rights of new Americans, supporting formerly incarcerated peoples, or leading their communities as civil servants, the 2023 honorees proved to be living examples of concerted citizen action.
As we recognize 75 years of the human rights, we urge Tennesseans to contribute to communities where there truly is dignity, justice, and freedom for all.
Muriel Nolen is director of the Tennessee Human Rights Commission.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Human Rights Day: Nashville area leaders honored for promoting dignity
