Whether
you’re reading about fair housing, racial disparities or gender equality, these
are all human rights issues. To bring increased awareness and education on
human rights to the public, a celebration for Human Rights Day takes place each
December in Nashville, Tenn. On
this day, Tennesseans celebrate the ratification of the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights (UDHR) by the United Nations, originally signed on Dec 10,
1948. It is always an event with a message of hope for the future, respect for
the past, and looking at what it will take to change human rights abuses in the
present. “Human
Rights Day means acknowledging leaders while encouraging others to take up the
torch for the future,” says planning committee chair Rev. Brian Fesler, pastor
of the Church of Scientology. The celebration will take place in a virtual setting
for the second time.            The
celebration centers around the Human Rights Lifetime Achievement awards, the Rising
Advocate Awards, and the Outstanding Service Award. Last year, Rising Advocate
Awards were given to three individuals who have made great strides for human
rights and show even greater promise for the future.  















The
committee plans to feature many different human rights organizations during
this year’s celebration, especially government agencies and non-profit
organizations in Tennessee that have commitments to some part of the thirty
rights as laid out in the UDHR. Organizations who wish to participate in the
planning may contact the organizer through www.nashvillehumanrights.org.