In the wake of WWII, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was drafted by nine people from around the world. On December 10, 1948, the the General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Eight nations abstained from the vote but none actively disagreed.
Hernán Santa Cruz of Chile, a member of the drafting sub-Committee, wrote about this occasion:
“I perceived clearly that I was participating in a truly significant historic event in which a consensus had been reached as to the supreme value of the human person, a value that did not originate in the decision of a worldly power, but rather in the fact of existing—which gave rise to the inalienable right to live free from want and oppression and to fully develop one’s personality. In the Great Hall…there was an atmosphere of genuine solidarity and brotherhood among men and women from all latitudes, the like of which I have not seen again in any international setting.”(1)
In 1950, December 10th was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly as Human Rights Day in order to bring to the attention ‘of the peoples of the world’ the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as the common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations.
The theme of December 10th, 2014 is Human Rights 365 – this year’s slogan encompasses the idea that every day is Human Rights Day. It celebrates the fundamental proposition in the Universal Declaration that each one of us, everywhere, at all times is entitled to the full range of human rights, that human rights belong equally to each of us and bind us together as a global community with the same ideals and values.
Iran was one of the 48 countries who voted in favour of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, unfortunately there are many human rights abuses in Iran at the moment.
For example, Article 26 (1) of the UDHR states:
Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.
In spite of the fact that they signed the UDHR in 1949, since the 1980s the Iranian government will not allow Baha’is to study or teach at any universities or institutes of higher learning. In other words, for more almost 30 years technical and professional education is not generally available to the Baha’is in Iran, nor are they able to access this education on the basis of merit.
A new campaign – Education is Not a Crime – is now bringing attention to this situation and asking that the Iranian government allow their Baha’i citizens fair and equal entry to education.
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