Congressman Alan Lowenthal (CA-47) today introduced a Congressional Resolution commemorating the international celebration of December 10 as Human Rights Day and the 68^th anniversary of the United Nations adoption and proclamation in 1948 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). 

Championed by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, the UDHR was the first comprehensive international agreement about the specific rights and freedoms of all human beings. Today, the UDHR is the world’s most translated document, with over 416 different translations.

“The UDHR mirrors the same rights and freedoms enshrined in our own Constitution and Bill of Rights,” Congressman Lowenthal said. “Each December since I joined the Congress in 2013, I have introduced this resolution to remind us of the basic rights and freedoms we enjoy that are denied so many people around the world. Now is the time for us to reflect on the steps we have taken and the steps we still need to take to address the abuses that continue around the globe.”

As a member of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, the Congressman’s resolution upholds the Commission’s mission, which is to promote, defend and advocate internationally recognized human rights norms in a nonpartisan manner, both within and outside of Congress, as enshrined in the UDHR and other relevant human rights instruments.

The Congressman also helped convene two expert panels which spoke before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission today. These panels brought together experts from such human rights organizations as Freedom House, Human Rights First, Reporters Without Borders USA, the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, Human Rights Watch, and Amnesty International to discuss two specific human rights areas: the closing space for civil society, political opposition, and the press; and the prevention and response to crimes against humanity and war crimes.

In his introductory remarks before the panels, Congressman Lowenthal highlighted the ongoing refugee crisis of the Rohingya in Burma, the continuing abuses of the repressive regime in Vietnam, and the continued curbing of civil rights in Cambodia by the current government. The Congressman also noted that LGBT people around the globe continue to face extreme violence and discrimination.

“My hope is that this coming year we will continue to shine a light on human rights abuses all around the globe,” Congressman Lowenthal said. “All of us—Members of Congress, the Administration, advocacy groups, and even ordinary citizens—have a responsibility to speak out when we see wrongdoing.” 

Congressman Lowenthal said that Congress must  stay vigilant in the face of ongoing abuses around the world and encouraged bipartisan support of his resolution, “I urge my colleagues to take this opportunity to reflect and honor all of those struggling across the globe to claim the fundamental rights and freedoms that belong to all human beings. Together, we can be a voice to speak out for human rights for every person, everywhere.”

The resolution currently has the support of 30 members of Congress.