• Skip to header navigation
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • X
  • Youtube
  • Linkedin
  • Home
  • About IFSW
  • Journals
  • Join
  • Contact
  • Member login

International Federation of Social Workers

Global Online conference

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Linkedin

Translate:

International Federation of Social Workers

  • Social Work Action
    • What is Social Work?
    • Climate Justice Program
    • IFSW and Covid-19
    • The Global Agenda
    • World Social Work Day
  • Regions
    • IFSW Africa
    • IFSW Asia and Pacific
    • IFSW Europe
    • IFSW Latin America and Caribbean
    • IFSW North America
  • Commissions
    • Education Commission
    • Ethics Commission
    • Indigenous Commission
    • United Nations Commission
  • Publications
    • Policies
    • Journals
    • Books
    • End of Year Reports
    • Information Hub
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Archive: General Meeting 2024
      • Login / Account
      • Documentation
      • Online Participation
    • Archive: General Meeting 2022
      • Login / Account
      • Documentation
    • Archive: 2020 Conference
      • Welcome
      • Keynote Speakers
      • Login / Account
      • Programme
      • Global Agenda
      • Contact
  • Shop
  • (0)

December 10, Human Rights Day

Information Type: NewsTopic: Human Rights, UN

December 10, 2009

Human Rights Day is celebrated annually across the world on 10 December.

The date was chosen to honour the United Nations General Assembly’s adoption and proclamation, on 10 December 1948, of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The commemoration of the day was initiated in 1950, when the UN General Assembly invited all states and interested organizations to celebrate the day.

The day is a high point in the calendar of UN headquarters in New York City, United States, and is normally marked by both high-level political conferences and meetings and by cultural events and exhibitions dealing with human rights issues. Many governmental and nongovernmental organizations active in the human rights field also schedule special events to commemorate the day.

Social work grew out of humanitarian and democratic ideals, and its values are based on respect for the equality, worth, and dignity of all people. Since its beginnings over a century ago, social work practice has focused on meeting human needs and developing human potential. Human rights and social justice serve as the motivation and justification for social work action.

IFSW promotes Human Rights by publishing statements on human rights issues and related matters and by raising awareness within the profession about the profession’s commitment to its Human Rights heritage. IFSW has adopted an International Policy on Human Rights describing its commitment and giving guidance to social workers and social work organizations on human rights policy matters. IFSW has together with the International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) developed and published a Manual on Social Work and Human Rights. To implement the Human Rights agenda of IFSW a special Human Rights Commission has been set up.

IFSW as an international organization also acts in the human rights field by supporting and defending the human rights of individual social workers, social work educators and students through appeals and demand for fair and transparent legal process and humane conditions in detention and imprisonment.
Read about IFSW’s Human Rights Activities

IFSW Policy Paper on Human Rights

See IFSW’s statement on the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Return to Information Hub

Region: GlobalLanguage: English

Primary Sidebar

Key documents

  • Global Definition of Social Work
  • Global Social Work Statement of Ethical Principles 
  • The Role of Social Work in Social Protection Systems
  • The People’s Charter for a New-Eco Social World

Footer

Copyright © 2025 International Federation of Social Workers · Registered Address: Maiengässli 4, 4310 Rheinfelden, Switzerland · Registered charity number: CHE-109.240.290

  • Sitemap
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy Policy
MENU
  • Home
  • General Meeting 2024
    • Login / Account
    • Documentation
    • Online Participation
  • About IFSW
    • Governance
    • Secretariat
    • What we do
    • Our members
    • Partners
    • General Meetings
    • Executive Meetings
    • Elections
    • Executive committee area
      • Meeting papers 2018
    • Archives
    • Member login
  • Join
  • What is Social Work?
    • Global Definition of Social Work
    • Meet Social Workers from around the world
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Find your region
    • IFSW Africa
    • IFSW Asia and Pacific
    • IFSW Europe
    • IFSW Latin America and Caribbean
    • IFSW North America
  • Commissions
    • Education Commission
    • Ethics Commission
    • Indigenous Commission
    • United Nations Commission
  • Information Hub
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Archive: 2020 Conference
      • Programme
      • Welcome
      • Keynote Speakers
      • Login / Account
      • Global Agenda
      • Contact
    • Archive: European DM 2020
      • Home
      • Login / Account
    • Archive: European DM 2021
  • Social Work Action
    • The Global Agenda
    • World Social Work Day
  • Shop
  • Contact