Human Dignity at the Heart of Our Common Future

On December 10 the international community marks Human Rights Day, commemorating the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris in 1948 as General Assembly Resolution 217 A. The declaration set out, for the first time, a common standard of fundamental rights and freedoms for all people, and has inspired a wide body of international human rights treaties and standards, becoming a foundation for contemporary international law and cooperation. In 2025 the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights focuses on the theme “Our Everyday Essentials,” underlining that equality, justice, freedom and dignity must shape not only institutions and laws but also daily choices, relationships and digital spaces.

Human Rights Day concludes the annual 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, a global campaign that runs from November 25 to December 10, and calls for the elimination of violence against women and girls. This year, the United Nations system, including the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) and partners highlight the urgent need to “Unite to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls,” affirming that online harassment, image-based abuse and technology-facilitated coercion are forms of violence that must be prevented and addressed with the same seriousness as violence in physical spaces.

The Universal Peace Federation (UPF), as an NGO in General Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, joins the United Nations family and all partners in renewing commitment to the protection and promotion of human rights for every person. Our founders, Dr. Hak Ja Han and Rev. Sun Myung Moon, consistently taught that authentic peace rests on respect for human dignity that flows from a universal divine source, and that all people ultimately belong to one human family.

The 2030 Agenda, particularly SDG 16, affirms that sustainable development must be grounded in universal respect for human rights, the rule of law, justice, equality and non-discrimination, while pledging to leave no one behind. From its inception, the Universal Peace Federation has translated the principles of human dignity and interdependence into concrete initiatives. Through the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace, UPF convenes lawmakers from diverse parties and nations to discuss legislation that strengthens the rule of law, protects freedom of conscience and belief and advances good governance.

UPF programs in interreligious dialogue through the Interreligious Association for Peace and Development (IAPD), peace education, and humanitarian service are rooted in ethical and spiritual renewal. Educational initiatives for youth and students through the International Association of Youth and Students for Peace (IAYSP) strengthen responsibility and respect for diversity, supporting more resilient communities.

On this Human Rights Day, the Universal Peace Federation encourages governments, international organizations and all stakeholders to reaffirm the universality and interdependence of human rights. The Universal Peace Federation encourages states and international organizations to strengthen national human rights institutions, uphold the independence of the judiciary and protect civic space so that human rights defenders, journalists, women leaders and youth activists can work without fear. It also encourages greater cooperation to address emerging challenges such as artificial intelligence, surveillance technologies and digital platforms in ways that safeguard privacy, freedom of expression, equality and the security of women and girls in all spaces.

We encourage UPF Ambassadors for Peace, including political, religious, academic, media and civil society leaders in every region, to use their influence to promote a culture of human rights grounded in moral responsibility and service. We invite young leaders to take roles in defending human dignity, challenging discrimination and hate speech, and building bridges across lines of religion, ethnicity, gender and generation.

We recognize that the foundation for human rights is the understanding that every person carries inherent worth. As Dr. Hak Ja Han has often reminded us, peace is possible when we see one another not as strangers or rivals but as members of one human family who share a common origin and a shared future. UPF therefore reaffirms its vision of a world where all people live as one family under God, in societies that honor human dignity, uphold justice, protect the vulnerable and cultivate a culture of service and mutual care. 

Dr. Tageldin Hamad, President, UPF-International December 10, 2025