Human Rights Day - December 10th

Human Rights Day on December 10th marks the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. It’s more than a historical milestone — it’s a reminder that human rights are meant to empower every one of us, every single day. These rights are not distant political ideas; they shape our daily lives, our dignity, and our emotional well-being.

Because mental health begins where human rights are respected - surrounds us. At least, this is how I feel about it.

Why human rights matter today

77 years later, the Declaration remains deeply relevant. It teaches us that we all have rights — and we all share responsibility. Every action, no matter how small, can help protect these rights: setting boundaries, supporting others, speaking up about injustice, or simply listening with compassion.

Back in 1948, UNESCO recognized that education and awareness were essential to spreading human rights. That idea still matters — especially when we think about mental health.

Human rights prevent harm — including emotional harm

When human rights are upheld, they create safe environments that prevent harm before it happens. This includes both physical and psychological harm.
Values like respect, equality, and freedom create spaces where people feel safe, heard, and connected.
And connection is one of the strongest protective factors for mental health.

Human rights protect us — because everyone deserves dignity

Human rights laws ensure that everyone can live in dignity, free from discrimination, fear, or abuse — with access to healthcare, education, and personal freedom.
These rights are not abstract. They shape our everyday experience.
When we protect our own rights and the rights of others, we’re also protecting mental well-being — both individually and collectively.

Human rights transform societies — creating healthier communities

Human rights are a powerful force for positive change. They’re not only about fixing current injustices; they help reshape unfair systems and amplify the voices of marginalized people.
Where human rights are strengthened, communities become safer, fairer, and more supportive.
These are exactly the conditions that reduce stress and foster resilience.

“Our Rights, Our Future, Now” — It's as well a message for mental health

• This year’s Human Rights Day theme reminds us that the future we want begins now — through everyday choices and everyday courage.
• Human rights don’t just operate on a global level.They show up in our relationships, workplaces, communities — and within ourselves.
• They remind us that we matter, that our emotions matter, and that we all have the right to live with dignity and mental well-being.

A Quiet Anxiety About Our Shared Future

But I can’t ignore the growing sense of unease. In many places, movements built on fear are gaining confidence. Leaders who openly question fundamental freedoms are being applauded. Ideas we once believed belonged firmly to the past are quietly making their way back into public life.

It’s frightening to watch how quickly empathy can be overshadowed by anger, and how easily human rights can be portrayed as optional. The shift is subtle, almost slow enough to miss — a change in tone here, a normalized insult there, a law proposed with language that sounds “practical” but feels and is anything but humane. You can feel the air thickening, as if compassion itself is being pushed to the margins.
And for many people, the unspoken worry is the same:
Are we heading toward a world that is less safe for our hearts, our choices, our identities?

My worry isn’t just political — it’s deeply emotional. When societies drift toward intolerance, the mental health of everyone suffers, our society suffers. That’s why defending our shared rights feels more important than ever.
It’s not only about preserving democracy; it’s about protecting the world we want to live in - the emotional landscapes the humanity in which we all (want to) live.

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By honoring human rights, we help create a world that is more peaceful, more just — and mentally healthier.

And each of us can start today.