The Assembly of the United Nations in 1950 adopted a declaration that invited all interested States and Organizations to celebrate on December 10th of each year the Human Rights Day. This day commemorates the adoption, in 1948, of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The slogan of this year’s edition, the 66th, was “Stand up for Someone’s Rights Today”.
The Human Rights Day is an appeal to all nations and persons to stand up for the rights of others: defending the rights of a refugee or a migrant, a disabled, a woman, an indigenous, a child, an afro-descendant, or any other person at risk of being discriminated against or of undergoing acts of violence.
The absolute and unconditional dignity of the person is the core and reason of being of Human Rights as a foundation of liberty, justice and peace, and it is a duty to stand up for them.
The present Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-Moon, underscored: “Together let us stand up for someone’s rights, today, tomorrow and every day, committing ourselves to guaranteeing the fundamental liberties and to protecting the human rights of all”.
The Salesian Congregation, on all fronts of its service in favour of the poor and needy youth, works so that these fundamental and universal rights be respected, recognized, put into practice and promoted.
Many are the Salesians who are daily committed to the rights of children and adolescents, so as to give them dignity and voice, to break the vicious circle between poverty, violations of human rights and underdevelopment.
In the style of Don Bosco, betting on education and, above all, on prevention, the Salesian Family is renowned all over the world for the formation it gives every year to millions of children and young people to sharing, social justice, solidarity and commitment to the development of society.
