Background on International Human Rights Day

Each year, The Advocates for Human Rights commemorates the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10, 1948, with a conference and an evening event.

In 1948, the United States served as a leader in the creation of what has come to be regarded as the single most important document created in the twentieth century: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which stands as the first comprehensive, internationally approved statement of rights. By commemorating the signing of the UDHR, we celebrate the United States' record of advancing people's human rights and reaffirm our commitment to be leaders in promoting and defending human rights in the United States and around the world. 

The 2007 Human Rights Day Conference “Voices From Silence: September 11 and the Impact on Refugees, Immigrants and Religious Minorities”

On December 3, 2007 The Advocates for Human Rights commemorated the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by focusing on the impact of 9/11 on refugees, immigrants and religious minorities. In collaboration with the Human Rights Center at the University of Minnesota and other local organizations, The Advocates held a day-long conference with plenary sessions and workshops, and an evening showing of the film, Divided We Fall, with a panel discussion following the film.

The conference highlighted the findings of The Advocates report,  Voices From Silence: Personal Accounts of the Long-Term Impact of 9/11issued in 2006. It was held from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the University of Minnesota Law School.

Plenary sessions featured Filmmaker, Valerie Kaur, whose film, Divided We Fall was shown that evening and the Midwest Area Civil Rights Counsel for the Anti-Defamation League, Clare Pinkert. Topics addressed in workshops included: the history of nativism and its impact in the U.S., academic discrimination and addressing bias in schools, understanding Islam, legal remedies for discrimination, hate crimes and their impact, and working with the media.

The conference was sponsored by The Advocates for Human Rights, the University of Minnesota Human Rights Center and Human Rights Program, the Midwest Human Rights Coalition, the Islamic Resource Group, and the Sikh Society of Minnesota.