Summary of 2008 Human Rights Week-related activities in North Carolina

Human Rights Day (December 10) and Human Rights Week (December 10-16) mark the adoption by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Bill of Rights Day (December 15), first declared in 1941 by President Franklin Roosevelt, commemorates the 1791 ratification of the Bill of Rights by the requisite number of states. Activities in 2008 in our state are listed below.

Issuance of proclamations by Governor Easley, by the mayors of Asheville, Burlington, Carrboro, Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham, Greenville, Hendersonville, Louisburg, Marion, Morrisville, Pittsboro, Raleigh, Reidsville, Selma, Thomasville, Winston-Salem and Zebulon, by the Boards of Commissioners of Durham, Henderson and Orange counties and by the Chancellor of North Carolina State University.

Wake County

1. •The 13th annual International Human Rights Award Dinner was held at the NC State University Club. Margaret (Peggy) Misch of Carrboro was honored for her contributions to the advancement of international human rights. Her talk was titled “Whither Go Human Rights in 2009?” She was introduced by Senator Eleanor Kinnaird.
   

2. •Eighth-graders from Exploris Middle School (Raleigh) read the UDHR and presented current illustrative examples from around the world. Beth Dehghan then spoke on “The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Women.” This event was held at the House Chamber of the Capitol and was sponsored by the UNA-USA of Wake County and HRCNC.
   

3. •A joint celebration of the anniversaries of the UDHR and the Bill of Rights was held at the Capitol, and featured the reading of the Governor’s proclamation and short talks by Jennifer Rudinger and Robert Lamb. This event was sponsored by the ACLU of North Carolina, Amnesty International (Group 213), UNA-USA of Wake County and HRCNC.
   

4. •A ceremony during which NCSU Chancellor Oblinger’s Human Rights Day proclamation was presented to the University and the community was held during the Miami-NC State football game.
   

5. •Community United Church of Christ (Raleigh) sponsored a Forum talk by Slater Newman titled “The Universal Declaration of Human Rights: 1948-2008”.
   

6. •A display (with handouts) focusing on the UDHR and the Bill of Rights was presented at seven Wake County libraries. The main library on the NCSU campus featured a similar display.
   

7. •A several-week exhibit created by artists in 25 countries to illustrate the articles of the UDHR and an opening-day reception were sponsored by NC State University.
   

8. •In addition, during United Nations Week in October, an event was held at the Capitol at which Theresa El-Amin discussed the work of the Southern Anti-Racism Network, of which she is Executive Director. UNA-USA of Wake County and HRCNC were the co-sponsors.
   

Outside Wake County

1. •In June in Charlotte, the first annual human-rights weekend occurred, featuring the screening of a documentary, a benefit concert, some human-rights-related testimonials, a worship service, a community potluck, and presentation of a human-rights award. The weekend was sponsored by the New Life Metropolitan Community Church and the Charlotte chapter of Amnesty International.
   

2. •The UNA-USA of Western North Carolina sponsored two events — a talk at Warren Wilson College by Paul Magnarella titled “The Universal Declaration of Human Rights — Its Origins, Its Evolution, Its Promise” and a performance by Asheville Playback Theater of “Stories of Freedom: Our Traditions/Our Future.”
   

3. •Chapel Hill and Carrboro sponsored a series of events during its Human Rights Week in which there was at least one forum on each day of that week.
   

4. •Chapel Hill and Carrboro also initiated a Human Rights Cities program, among the first in the United States. Recently established is the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Human Rights Center, a 501(c)(3) organization, to promote human-rights learning and programs in the area. 
   

5. •There were three events in Winston-Salem: A Festival of Light in recognition of the Festivals of the Season and of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and UDHR Article 27 Roundtables sponsored by Winston-Salem’s arts-based elementary school and by Salem College and the North Carolina School for the Arts.
   

6. •Public reading of the Bill of Rights, UDHR and/or proclamations occurred in Carrboro, Chapel Hill, Durham and Hillsborough.
   

7. •The Bill of Rights and the UDHR were featured in a display at one of the libraries in Johnston County during the month of December.
   

8. •Some of the events listed above were covered in the Chapel Hill Herald, Chapel Hill News, Durham Herald-Sun, The Independent, Raleigh News & Observer and The Technician.
   

HRCNC (other activities)

In addition to sponsorship and/or involvement in several of the activities listed above, our Coalition (a) distributed approximately 700 copies of the UDHR and the Bill of Rights (plus related amendments and articles in the Constitution), (b) sent each of our four newsletters (a total of 14 pages) to the approximately 550 individuals and groups on our mailing list,  (c) endorsed or co-sponsored activities in support of collective bargaining for public employees, shutting down the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay and habeas corpus for a former “disappeared” person, (d) and in September our website, www.hrcnc.org, was established. Exhibits are planned for 10 Wake County libraries this year and for three in Johnston County.