the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Something I say often, and encourage you to tell the ones you love, is about how you all deserve to be loved, feel at peace, and experience safety. Today I want to talk a little about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which was signed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris, France on December 10th 1948 and which is a defining document in history outlining 30 articles affirming individual rights. You will find an article about it and a full listing at this link, but I want to highlight a few of them - 

• All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
• Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms, without distinction of any kind, such as race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinions, national or social origin, property, birth, or another status.
• Everyone has the right to life, liberty, and security of person.
• All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law.
• No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honor and reputation.
• Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media.
• Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts, and share in scientific advancement and its benefits. 

You, and the ones you love, absolutely have the right to be treated with love and respect. Sadly, in our world, especially in our country right now, for far too many people this is not happening. But you and I can open our eyes. We can stand up. We can speak up. We can be sure the ones we love know they matter and deserve to be treated in a way which reflects their value. We can be sure those who are our neighbors and fellow people who live on this planet know the same. Please take this to heart for you, too. You matter. You make our world a better place! I hope this is encouraging for you and I hope you encourage others with these truths, too.