RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Human Rights Day is observed on the tenth day of December every year, in recognition of the day the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948; and
WHEREAS, The Universal Declaration of Human Rights represents the first comprehensive agreement among nations as to the fundamental rights and freedomsof all human beings, regardless of race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, or other status; and
WHEREAS, The preamble to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that "recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world"; and
WHEREAS, The Universal Declaration of Human Rights upholds the basic principles of liberty and security of person, and lists the freedoms of opinion and expression, thought, conscience, and religion, and association, and the rights to due process and equal protection of the law among the inalienable freedoms and rights belonging to every person; and
WHEREAS, Cruel and unjust punishment, slavery, and unequal application ofthe law are global plagues that have increased in recent years, even in countries historically considered stalwarts of democracy; and
WHEREAS, Immigrants and refugees who fled prosecution are a vital part of Chicago, and our City stands with those whose home countries are not fostering an inclusive and equitable society; and
WHEREAS, Human Rights Day provides Chicagoans with an opportunity to reflect on the importance of human rights and our shared commitmenttothe values of freedom and democracy; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and Members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled this sixteenth day of December, 2020, do hereby designate December 10, 2020, as "Human Rights Day" in Chicago, and celebrate the commemoration of 72 years of progress toward greater respect for human rights throughout the world.