“Human rights are our compass in turbulent times — guiding and steadying us through uncertainty,” said UN Human Rights Chief, Volker Türk, marking the launch of the 2025 Human Rights Day campaign, celebrated today on December 10.

In 2025, the very foundations of human rights have been put to the test.

“Inequalities are rising, conflicts are raging, the climate emergency is mounting, and some are creating and trying to deepen divisions within societies and between countries. But we must not give up,” said Türk in his video message marking the 80th anniversary of the entry into force of the UN Charter in 1945.

“We need more solidarity and more human rights to address the current challenges. It is crucial to keep advocating for our fundamental rights,” he said.

Our Everyday Essentials, this year’s UN Human Rights Day campaign, seeks to reaffirm the enduring relevance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and its core values — equality, justice, freedom, and dignity — reminding us that human rights remain a steadfast promise for society.

The campaign highlights two interconnected aspects of human rights: the extraordinary nature of their founding as one of the world’s most groundbreaking global pledges, and their everyday, essential presence woven into our lives.

The abstract becomes real when we realize that everyday actions — spending time with family, reading the news, walking freely, drinking clean water, or enjoying a meal — are made possible by human rights in practice.

These essentials are enshrined in the UDHR: the right to an adequate standard of living (Article 25), which guarantees food, basic needs, and a healthy environment; the right to freedom of opinion and expression (Article 19), which ensures access to information; the right to education (Article 14), which guarantees the right to seek asylum from persecution in other countries. Yet, these simple acts are not possible everywhere.

By bridging the gap between the principles of human rights and daily experiences, Our Everyday Essentials campaign seeks to raise awareness, inspire confidence, and encourage collective action.