HYDE PARK- To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site and Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site, along with the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum, will host a Human Rights Day Expo on December 10, 2023. Events will begin at 10 a.m. at the Henry A. Wallace Center in Hyde Park. For more information, including the full program of events CLICK HERE.
Commemoration events will include talks on human rights-related topics, animated films commissioned by the library, a musical concert, and an expo highlighting a diverse group of local organizations supporting all facets of human rights. The Beatrix Farrand Garden will host a contemplative walk during the day, where people can explore the garden through the words of Eleanor Roosevelt and the UDHR. The FDR Presidential Library and Museum will have a temporary exhibit of Eleanor Roosevelt’s copy of the UDHR through December.
“Eleanor Roosevelt said, ‘Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places, close to home,’” said Superintendent Amy Bracewell. “That resonates with me and all of our community partners who have helped commemorate this day. Taking care of your neighbors and community can have ripple effects that support everybody’s human rights.”
The Dutchess County community came together to plan and host this event. The planning team included the National Park Service, the National Archives and Records Administration, the Dutchess County Human Rights Commission, the Beatrix Farrand Garden Association, the Eleanor Roosevelt Center at Val-Kill, the Hudson River Valley Greenway, the Roosevelt Institute, and the United Nations Association, Mid-Hudson Valley Chapter.
“Students from around the world can learn about Eleanor Roosevelt’s work both in the Library’s archival holdings and also at her nearby home, Val-Kill,” said William Harris, director of FDR Presidential Library and Museum. “Mrs. Roosevelt’s legacy illustrates the fundamental truth that we first begin to create positive change in our homes and communities. We encourage young people to get involved in their communities and, like Eleanor Roosevelt, build a better future for everyone.”
Proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948, the Declaration established clear rights for every human around the globe. As chairperson of the UN Committee for Human Rights, Eleanor Roosevelt spearheaded the drafting of the declaration and shepherded it through a divided UN to adoption. The tenets of the UDHR remain strongly relevant today.
Roosevelt’s service to the UN and the world cemented her legacy as a champion for human rights. Her tireless work on civil rights in the United States, her travels during World War II and her dedication to the UDHR still serve as a model to inspire new generations.
