Human Rights Day 2025 — “Human Rights, Our Everyday Essentials”

By Nevasha Naidoo, Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)

Human Rights Day is celebrated every December 10. The 2025 theme is “Human Rights, Our Everyday Essentials.”

This day marks the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights   (UDHR) by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948. The Declaration  affirms that all people are entitled to fundamental rights — including equality, life, liberty, security, freedom of speech and religion, and the right to participate in cultural and community life. 

Human Rights Day invites us to reflect on human dignity, equality, and justice, and to remember that human rights shape our everyday lives.

Why it Still Matters

Many people and communities, including Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, minorities, migrants, and others, continue to face inequality, discrimination, and barriers to justice. According to ILGA World, as of 2025 around 60 countries still criminalize consensual same-sex relationships, reminding us that 2SLGBTQI+ rights remain far from universal. A 2024 global study by the Pew Research Center found that governments imposed high or very high levels of religious restrictions in 24 countries, and that all 198 countries studied showed at least some form of government or social limits on religious practice. And while women’s suffrage is nearly universal, World Population Review notes that places like Vatican City still do not grant women the right to vote.

These realities show that even today, fundamental human rights continue to be contested, and that vigilance and collective action remain essential.

Human Rights Day encourages individual awareness and collective action to help protect human rights for everyone.

How PR Professionals and Organizations Can Help

• PR professionals and organizations can honour Human Rights Day by educating employees about the UDHR, reviewing communication practices for inclusion and equity, and promoting dignity and respect in all messaging.

• PR teams can highlight progress in human rights by sharing stories, celebrating achievements in equality and accessibility, and reinforcing positive change through internal and external communications.

• Organizations can strengthen partnerships and support broader human-rights efforts by collaborating with community groups, industry networks, and global initiatives on awareness and advocacy.

• Communicators can address technology and human rights by raising awareness about digital privacy, AI ethics, online safety, and the digital divide to ensure responsible and inclusive digital practices.

• PR professionals can help amplify the voices of vulnerable communities by sharing reliable information, promoting inclusive language, and supporting equity for Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, migrants, refugees, women, children, and 2SLGBTQI+ communities.

Resources 

Here are concrete resources and ideas for learning, sharing, and acting:

• The United Nations Human Rights Day page — learn about the 2025 theme and why human rights matter. 

• The Government of Canada’s Human Rights Day official page — background on Canada’s role and simple ways to participate. 

• Use the United Nations Human Rights Day text (available on the UN site) to raise awareness among colleagues, clients, and communities. 

• Explore the Canadian Museum for Human Rights’ Story Collection.

• Read the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action (PDF version, 299 KB) and choose one that you will act on.

December 10 continues to be the recognized day for raising awareness of human rights in Canada, with government departments promoting education, outreach, and international reporting, emphasizing accessibility and inclusion, and encouraging reflection and action to protect equality, non-discrimination, and dignity for all.