Commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

The momentum in commemorating the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is reaching a fever pitch. The Declaration remains the leading international guidepost for achieving freedom, equality, and justice for everyone. This year of activities in communities, countries and regions around the world has been both a fitting tribute as well as a forerunner to the Geneva high-level event on 11-12 December 2023. On these two days, we will witness the culmination of all the dialogues, thematic consultations, multistakeholder recommendations, as well as birth and growth of our pledging tree.

The Declaration has always been the “people’s Declaration,” and is generating a natural coming together for a global shift. It has spawned national, regional, and international laws and bodies to defend human rights. It has been universally embedded in popular discourse and expectations that equal and inalienable rights of all must be preserved and that human dignity and individual freedoms must be secured.

It is little wonder that the Declaration has been translated into more than 550 languages. It resonates with everyone and touches on universal values. This 75th anniversary year is a milestone and a foundation to build progress in the next quarter century.

The final push to hear the “Voices”

2023 will be remembered for its power to advance freedom, equality, and justice. Let us welcome a new era of progress launched with the concrete engagement of several countries, communities, leaders and youth from all disciplines and backgrounds,” said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk.

The Human Rights 75 journey has ramped up many activities at local, national and regional levels, reflecting an impressive diversity of events on all continents. These include debates, pledges, festivals, new partnerships, and support from sports persons, singers, parliamentarians, youth, business, and civil society across the UN family.

The Human Rights 75 high-level event is being convened by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and co-hosted by the Government of Switzerland. Participants will include Member States, civil society organizations, cities and local governments, human rights defenders, parliamentary representatives, United Nations entities, academics, experts, young people and artists.

The 11-12 December programme features “Voices” – different sessions during the event that will unveil feedback from the multi-actors’ dialogues that have been taking place over the last several months worldwide. In addition, the event will feature four roundtables with state leaders exploring issues relating to peace and security, development, technologies, and climate over the next 25 years. With 14 leaders including Heads of State and governments, and foreign ministers already confirmed, a packed attendance and even wider participation is expected.

A central feature of Human Rights 75’s high-level event is the “pledging tree” that will become laden with countries' commitments, initiatives and promises for a brighter future.

The event is accessible to all with international sign interpretation and real-time captioning in English provided.

The hybrid format means that the event takes place at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland while connected to hubs in Bangkok, Nairobi, and Panama.

A Human Rights 75 Virtual Conference Centre is being built to welcome 3000 online participants.