A celebration of 70 years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and how we stand up for them in Greater Manchester

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was signed on 10 December 1948. Described as ‘the foremost statement of the rights and freedoms of all human beings’, the Declaration is based on dignity, equality and fairness.

To celebrate 70 years of the Declaration the United Nations have run a yearlong campaign considering how we all #StandUp4HumanRights and we are delighted that the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has decided to join us in Manchester as part of these celebrations.

Historically, Manchester has been at the forefront of campaigning for change and protecting human rights locally, nationally and internationally.

We campaigned for universal suffrage at Peterloo and specifically for women’s suffrage through Emmeline Pankhurst and the Women’s Social and Political Union; the Rochdale Pioneers launched the first cooperative store, a revolution which spread worldwide; the Trades Union Congress (TUC) was founded in Manchester to instigate and protect worker’s rights and Lancashire mill workers took a principled stand against slavery by refusing to touch raw cotton picked by US slaves.

When the NHS was founded 70 years ago the first hospital was here; Manchester formed the foundation of what became the gay rights movement, hosted the first Gay Pride event and is still the headquarters for the LGBT Foundation and Sparkle, the National Transgender Charity.

Article three of the declaration of human rights states that ‘Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person’. At a time when violence seems to be rising across the globe and tolerance seems to be diminishing, we are considering how Greater Manchester is standing up for human rights through the life course and actions of the people who live here.

Join us on Monday, 12 November 2018 for an audience with the United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights and to hear about the initiatives across Greater Manchester which demonstrate how we are #Standing up for Human Rights.

Monday, 12 November 2018 from 5.00pm – 6.45pm followed by tea and cake.

St Peter’s House, Oxford Road, Manchester

Please book your free place in advance via Eventbrite.

All welcome.