International Human Rights Day is December 10th. Human Rights Day has been observed annually around the world since 1948, and originally began with a Declaration of Human Rights that was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on December 10th 1948 that set out, for the first time, fundamental human rights to be universally protected. This declaration stated the rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being - regardless of race, color, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. It is available in 577 languages, from Abkhaz to Zulu, making the UDHR the most translated document in the world. To read the Universal Declaration of Human Rights please visit un.org and search for Universal Declaration of Human Rights. On December 2, 2002, 23 years ago today, Governor John Kitzhaber issued an apology for Oregon's forced sterilization of institutionalized patients and Proclaimed December 10th Human Rights Day in Oregon. This year, in 2025, our community is again struggling to come to terms with how to best support those people and families who are suffering because their basic rights are not being respected and honored. In Salem, Senator Deb Patterson will be hosting the 34th annual “Salem Speaks Up” to honor International Human Rights Day. This is an open mic event, and intended to offer people an opportunity to share, and discuss how best to understand, care and do more to bring everyone together in a community of Peace. The event will be held on December 10th from 7-9pm at the Westminster Presbyterian Church at 3737 Liberty Road S.
