On December 11 I was at the UN in New York for the beginning of a year-long campaign to mark the 70th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was signed in Paris on December 10, 1948. The program at the UN attracted a large crowd who heard both Mr. António Guterrres, UN Secretary-General and Mr. Miroslav Laj&269;ák, President of the General Assembly, stress the progress we have made in the area of human rights, without forgetting the abuses that continue. It is essential to continue our work to see that all have their rights: political, social, economic and cultural, respected, for peace and security are rooted in this. Thus it is not surprising that human rights are integrated into all the work of the United Nations. All of the six speakers urged everyone to stand up for the rights of others every day, in all circumstances. A former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights also reminded those gathered of the plight of refugees today and spoke of the need for a good migration policy to ensure the rights of all migrants.

The Universal Declaration on Human Rights remains as valid and powerful today as it did in 1948. It is the most translated document in the world and needs to be part of the education of all children. Its 30 articles still address the fundamental rights of all persons. And I learned the program that it was a woman, Eleanor Roosevelt, who was the driving force behind this. It was a program that opened my eyes to how I might be a force for the advancement of human rights.

- Barbara Bozak