Human Rights Day 2007

Today is recognized by the United Nations as Human Rights Day, beginning a year long celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. A large event was held Geneva today to inaugurate this observance, featuring speeches from Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour, and many other esteemed speakers (watch videos of each presentation here). The statement from the General Assembly President declares: “In calling for a new culture of international relations, based on full respect of human rights, human security, the responsibility to protect and sustainable development, I wish to emphasize that we must not and cannot forget those who are denied these rights. It is incumbent upon us to champion their cause.” On our behalf, to help commemorate Human Rights Day, this week we will have several new features on this blog, including an animated film with a renewed call to free Mikhail Khodorkovsky from prison at once, as well as a new highly sensitive covert video which exposes human rights violations at a Yekaterinaburg prison camp which was to brought to us by a colleague. And of course we always welcome your thoughts and positive contributions to help us commemorate this important year in human rights.