Human Rights Day is Thursday, Dec. 10. The day commemorates the United Nations’ adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on Dec. 10, 1948.
The city’s Human Rights Commission is marking the day with information, at www.rockvillemd.gov/humanrights, to prompt ideas, conversation and action for upholding and respecting human rights. The COVID-19 pandemic and the response to the virus has raised many questions about how to balance public health needs with individual human rights protections.
In 1984, the U.N. Economic and Social Council adopted the Siracusa Principles, a set of guidelines for preserving human rights in the face of public emergencies. During such times, the Siracusa Principles can help protect human rights that risk being compromised, such as freedom of expression for journalists, health care workers, government officials, workers, civilians and members of the scientific community; freedom of travel and movement; and the right to education and information.
The principles also call for the response to public emergencies to be monitored to determine disproportionate impacts on different segments of society, such as the elderly, racial and ethnic minorities, the disabled, women and girls, migrants, and marginalized groups such as the homeless.
The City of Rockville is addressing problems related to the pandemic such as food insecurity and financial difficulty. For more information, see the article on page 1 or visit www.rockvillemd.gov/2316/COVID-19-Resources.
Learn more about Human Rights Day at www.un.org/en/observances/human-rights-day.