Human Rights Day: First Nations Rights and Responsibilities

10 December

Human Rights Day is observed every year on 10 December. It commemorates the United Nations General Assembly’s adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. The day provides an opportunity to examine how rights are respected in practice, including the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The universal rights framework

The Universal Declaration sets out a common standard of rights and freedoms grounded in the dignity of every person. Its significance lies in the expectation that rights are not privileges reserved for particular groups or dependent on a person’s background.

Human Rights Day is a worldwide observance. It is included in this calendar because a discussion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander justice also involves dignity, equality, culture and participation. A commemoration can connect these principles to decisions made by governments, institutions and organisations.

Indigenous peoples’ collective rights

The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, adopted on 13 September 2007, provides a further framework addressing Indigenous peoples’ rights. It includes self-determination and rights concerning culture, identity, lands and participation in decisions.

The two declarations have different histories and purposes. Learning about both helps avoid reducing First Nations rights to individual inclusion alone. Rights can concern peoples’ collective relationships with Country, language, knowledge and institutions as well as the treatment of an individual.

From statements to everyday practice

A useful question for schools and workplaces is what changes when rights guide a decision. Consider how an organisation seeks input, responds to racism, handles cultural material and supports meaningful participation. Naming a principle is a starting point; responsibilities become clearer when connected to an actual practice.

Choose a manageable example, identify whose rights and interests are involved and ask who has authority to decide. Make room for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives without expecting one participant to represent every community or explain their own experiences of discrimination.

The date also coincides with the anniversary of Paul Keating’s Redfern Speech on 10 December 1992, which has a separate page in our calendar. These entries can be read together while keeping the global observance and the Australian historical event distinct.

Learning and reflection

Begin with the original declarations and reliable explanatory material. Ask how a principle is described in the text and what further information would be needed to apply it in a particular setting. Keep the purpose of each source clear when comparing an international declaration, a policy and an account of lived experience.

For a practical activity, review a policy or resource selection process and identify one improvement that gives people a meaningful say. A discussion should result in a clear responsibility and a way to check progress, rather than only a statement of support.

Annual campaign themes and events can change. Use current United Nations information when advertising a particular year’s observance, and retain dates and context when sharing older material.

Sources and further reading

The resources below provide historical records, First Nations perspectives and pathways for further learning. Some historical material contains names and images of deceased people, outdated language or distressing content. Follow the guidance provided by each publisher.

Online sources and longer reading

Human Rights Day. United Nations. Official information confirming the annual 10 December observance and its origins.
https://www.un.org/en/observances/human-rights-day

Human rights. United Nations. Background on the Universal Declaration and the international human rights framework.
https://www.un.org/en/global-issues/human-rights

United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. United Nations Digital Library. The original Declaration for longer reading on Indigenous peoples’ individual and collective rights.
https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/638370?v=pdf

Anniversary of the Redfern Speech. Buy First Nations. A distinct Australian anniversary sharing 10 December.
https://buyfirstnations.com.au/pages/redfern-speech

Our related products and resources

For further learning, explore the sources above and choose resources appropriate to your setting. Our book collection and information for schools and organisations provide additional browsing pathways. Check each item’s description for its specific subject, authorship and suitability.