A copy of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is displayed at the Evesham municipal building on Tuckerton Road.
Evesham Township recenty joined the observation of Human Rights Day, observed worldwide on Dec. 10 to coincide with the day the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.
That declaration emphasizes the inalienable rights to which every human being is entitled, regardless of race, color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, political opinion, national origin or economic status. A copy is displayed at the township municipal building with support from Evesham’s Human Rights Advisory Council.
The advisory council was created to support residents who have a desire to volunteer their time and advocate for new ways to ensure equality and justice in the township.
This year’s theme for Human Rights Day is “Human Rights, Our Everyday Essentials,” which emphasizes that such rights are not abstract ideals, but fundamental daily needs such as safety, health and dignity that are essential for well-being.
Representatives from both the advisory council and the Evesham Youth Advisory Committee were present at a recent council meeting to accept the proclamation. Mayor Jackie Veasy read part of the document aloud.
“Human rights initiatives include combating the deep-rooted forms of discrimination that have affected the most vulnerable people in societies,” she said. “Advancing human rights has the power to tackle the root causes of conflict and crisis by allowing more people to participate in the decision making that affects their lives, which in turn allows people to peacefully address grievances and work toward eliminating inequalities and exclusion.
“(Evesham Township) hereby recognizes Dec. 10 as Human Rights Day and calls upon all residents to recognize that human rights are an everyday, essential, achievable, positive and vital principal we all share that peacefully unites us around the world.”
Advisory council meetings are typically held on the fourth Tuesday of the month from January to October at 7:30 p.m. Learn more at www.evesham-nj.org/boards/rights.
