UN commissioner marks Human Rights Day by telling world to ‘Embrace Diversity’

Today is International Human Rights Day and the theme this year is, "Embrace Diversity, End Discrimination." Human Rights Day is observed each year on December 10th to commemorate the adoption of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. Despite gains in recent decades, human rights advocates say millions of people face institutional and societal discrimination on a daily basis. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay says discrimination; intolerance and prejudice remain rampant even with the adoption of numerous conventions and international laws dedicated to the elimination of discrimination.

"Discrimination may start with words, but it can also very easily end in violence, ranging from someone being beaten up in the street because of their clothing or skin color to more systematic persecution, ethnic cleansing, war crimes and crimes against humanity, including genocide. The problem begins inside each and every one of us.”

Pillay says racial and ethnic discrimination are some of the most dangerous forms. To end discrimination, she says stronger laws are necessary.

"You cannot defeat discrimination by shutting your eyes to it and hoping it will go away. Complacency is discrimination's best friend."

Today, FSRN will take a look at several areas of human rights. A bit later, we'll look at the US school system, which a growing number of educators and parents say is using overly harsh discipline that disproportionately targets poor children and students of color.