The President of the Republic of Liberia, Her Excellency Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, has issued a Proclamation declaring today Thursday, December 10, 2015 as Human Rights Day to be observed throughout the Republic as a Working Holiday. 

President Johnson Sirleaf has therefore called upon all citizens and foreign residents, nation and international organizations, and Government Agencies concerned to join the Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR) and execute appropriate programs befitting the observance of the Day.   

A Foreign Ministry release says the Republic of Liberia is a founding member of the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity (OAU), now the African Union (AU), and a signatory to its charter, which expresses strong commitment to the principles of human rights and has established an Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR), by an Act of the National Legislature in 2005.  

According to the release, this year’s Human Rights Day is devoted to the launch of a year-long campaign for the 50^th anniversary of the two International Covenants on Human Rights: the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which were adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 16, 1966.

This year’s Human Rights Day will be celebrated under the theme: “Our Rights, Our Freedoms, Always”.

In 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in 1950, the Assembly passed resolution 423 (V), inviting all states and interested organizations to observer December 10 of each year as Human Rights Day.