Tennessee to Hold Celebration of Human Rights Day in December

Online, August 1, 2012 (Newswire.com) - International Human Rights Day occurs every year to commemorate the ratification of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) by the United Nations on Dec 10, 1948. In Tennessee, Human Rights Day is a day to learn and educate others on these basic rights, while various human rights groups join forces and commit to creating an even better future.

Human Rights Day is scheduled for the second Thursday in December this year, most likely mid-afternoon. The event is shaping up to have more of an educational piece than previous years. "On this day we aim to provide tools to educate those who don't know their rights," says Chair of the Planning Committee, Rev. Brian Fesler, "If people don't know their rights, they will be violated - the answer is in education."

The celebration centers around the Human Rights Lifetime Achievement awards and the Rising Advocate Award. New just last year, the Rising Advocate award is given to individuals who show great promise in the field of human rights. Fesler says, "It was great last year to see the fire burning in the winners of that Rising Advocate award. I'm looking forward to it again, and we are accepting nominations."

The committee plans to feature many different human rights organizations, especially the Tennessee governmental and non-profit agencies that have commitments to the thirty rights as laid out in the UDHR.

The planning committee is composed of the Tennessee Human Rights Commission, Metro Human Relations Commission, Church of Scientology, Women On Maintaining Education and Nutrition, and the American Center for Outreach. For more information, visit www.nashvillehumanrights.org.