Today is both international Human Rights day and the 65th Anniversary of the Adoption of Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This important declaration, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1948, states that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.”
In honor of the anniversary, the organization Free & Equal, a global campaign designed to raise awareness of homophobic and transphobic violence and discrimination, is releasing this short infographic video outlining one important aspect of human rights: the fight for LGBT rights at the UN.
Although important strides have been made toward LGBT equality, there is still much work to be done. Just look at what’s going on in Russia these days, let alone the fact that same-sex relationships are still criminalized in nearly 80 countries. As the video points out, progress will be made only as we continue to see a positive change in the way people think and feel about LGBT people.
The video will be screened at UN headquarters in New York today at an event including such speakers as tennis legend Martina Navratilova, openly gay NBA player Jason Collins, openly gay MSNBC anchor Thomas Roberts, UN human rights chief Navi Pillay and other human rights activists from Russia, South Africa and the U.S. Says Pillay,
Today we remember where we came from and redouble our efforts to create a world in which no one is discriminated against because of who they are or whom they love.
The video includes the instrumental version of Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’s hit song “Same Love,” who also serve as Free & Equal equality champions.
Photo taken from video, courtesy of Free & Equal. Learn more about the Free & Equal campaign at www.unfe.org.
