Sixty years is enough time to learn to walk, play an instrument, graduate high school, fall in love, earn a degree, retire, get married, and have kids. So much can be achieved by an individual human; how much can society accomplish? December 10th was National Human Rights Day, and this year marked the sixtieth birthday of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).

The UDHR was drafted by the Commission on Human Rights, an 18 member group chaired by Eleanor Roosevelt. The document was designed to ensure the protection and practice of equality, freedom, and opportunity among all the people of the world. It is a declaration of the human race as a brotherhood, all of the members equal and sharing a common bond.

The Commission presented the UDHR to all UN member states after their conference in Geneva and it was voted on by all but 8 nations at the General Assembly meeting in Paris on December 10, 1948.

The 2008 celebration also marked the culmination of the year-long “Dignity and Justice for all of us,” campaign and the United Nations had big plans for the celebration at their New York headquarters. The 60th anniversary festivities included a schedule of weeklong events leading up to the big day. The itinerary content ranged from a General Assembly discussion of the issues preventing the advancement of human rights, to a ceremony for the UN award for excellence in the field of Human Rights, and a screening of the Stories on Human Rights films. Other countries joined in the celebration as well, with exhibits, awards and educative programs.

Living in a time when genocide, terrorism, and oppression are still relevant issues it is incredibly important that we recognize the significance of that day and that declaration. America is fortunate enough to be one of the countries who uphold freedom and rights as established in the UDHR.

There are countries however, where humans aren’t privy to such environments. In some areas of the world people do not have the freedom to make choices like we do. Some citizens have their occupation chosen for them by their government; some are told how to dress and viewed as inferior because of their gender; and some experience the oppression of their freedom of speech by the government.

It is easy to lose perspective and underestimate the quality of life in countries where people are treated justly by the government and human rights are upheld to the utmost standards. The obligations of these countries not only include celebrating what they have, but working toward the preservation of the UDHR and to its instillation into countries whose citizens are currently demoralized. No delusions of grandeur are necessary, but the devotion of one heart can touch the lives of millions.

The United Nations website offers lots of materials for people to spread the word and educate others about the UDHR and its value. The content ranges from kits designed to help the media, businesses, educators, and local governments plan their own celebrations to declaration posters and know your rights quizzes.

Eleanor Roosevelt once said “It isn’t enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn’t enough to believe in it. One must work at it.” No matter where in the world people come from behind the differences in language, race, religion, and culture everyone is human. A single human, living in a country like America, can achieve substantial things in 60 years, but the UN needs help to give members of other countries those same 60 years of opportunity and each individual should challenge themselves to be part of that change.