Marking 60 Years of Equality, Dignity and Rights

One of the most important milestones in the past 60 years is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, called the Magna Carta for all mankind by Eleanor Roosevelt.

In approving the Declaration on December 10, 1948, nations of the world recognized for the first time that all people, in all nations, are free and equal in dignity and in rights, regardless of race, religion, economic status, age, gender or other personal characteristics. On that day, the United Nations brought into being, for the first time, an international document recognizing human rights as the foundation of peace, justice and freedom in the world.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights endures as a blueprint for international human rights treaties and conventions.  Its eloquent wording inspired a vision for Canada in which "all individuals should have an opportunity equal with other individuals to make for themselves the lives that they are able and wish to have," free from discrimination. 

The Commission was pleased to host an event for stakeholders on December 8, 2008. The celebration, held in Ottawa, is part of a year long programme by countries around the world to recognize International Human Rights Day.  Parlamentarians, Canadian Association of Statutory Human Rights Agencies partners, national aboriginal organizations, organizations representing the interests of women, visible minorities and persons with disabilities gathered together to celebrate this important moment.

The event showcased the innovative work of the late McGill Law Professor, John Peters Humphrey, who helped pen the Universal Declaration as first director of the Human Rights Division in the United Nations Secretariat.  Humphrey’s biography and photographs were part of a special exhibit next to replicas of his first hand-written drafts, which were displayed, for the occasion.

The Declaration and the work of Humphrey and others helped inspire the passing of the Canadian Human Rights Act in 1977 and the establishment of the Canadian Human Rights Commission in 1978.

Chief Commissioner’s speech

Colleen Sheppard’s speech

Photos of the event