Commemorating International Human Rights Day

CHAA staff, Nwe Oo and Dechen Tsering holding up their national flags

On Saturday, December 10, people all over the world celebrated International Human Rights Day, commemorating the Declaration of Human Rights, a universal mandate passed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948 asserting the rights of all human beings.

There were celebrations in cities all over the world, including San Francisco, where some members of CHAA's staff spoke and marched alongside other activists calling for freedom in Tibet and Burma, as well as for universal human rights of all.

Burmese Wellness Advocate Nwe Oo gives a speech

Nwe Oo, CHAA's Burmese community advocate and refugee activist, spoke in front of a growing crowd at Justin Herman Plaza in San Francisco. Wearing a colorful and traditional Rakhine dress, Nwe spoke of the need for freedom in her home country of Burma, the coming together of the Occupy movement and international movements for justice and freedom. Other Burmese activists, including Nwe's three year old son, stood by holding signs, banners and balloons calling for a free Burma.

CHAA Community Resources Director,
 Dechen Tsering,
 speaks to the crowd

Next, CHAA's Community Resources Director, Dechen Tsering, surrounded by her fellow free Tibet activists, spoke about the intersection of all human rights movements, from the Occupy movement to LGBTQ rights, economic equality, the Tibetan freedom movement and all progressive movements together throughout the world. 

After the speeches, participants marched towards Market Street, one of the major streets in downtown San Francisco. Half of the road was taken up and hundreds of people matched forward, chanting, singing and waving flags and signs. It was a sea of colors as Tibetan and Burmese flags were waved, alongside homemade flags and clever signs calling for change. 

Protestors near the Union Square Christmas Tree

The group marched up Market Street before moving onto Powell St. in the heart of the shopping district. The crowd settled in Union Square park, across from the massive Macy's retail store where customers crowded around the store windows to watch the activity below. Interestingly, the marchers were right next to the giant Christmas tree in Union Square, bringing out a thoughtful anecdote as to what the true meaning of Christmas may be.

More speeches were given as the crowd cheered and stayed strong. Free Burma and Free Tibet signs stayed up throughout, as the advocates behind them stood proudly behind their causes.

International Human Rights Day is a day of commemoration and reflection. On this day, there were sentiments of unity, solidarity and empathy for all those who suffer within unjust and unfair systems. May these sentiments continue in the work all human rights activists do as we aim to hold up the ideals of this declaration in our every day lives. 

To see more photos of the International Human Rights Day March in San Francisco, click here.

Photographs by S. Nadia Hussain

Written by S. Nadia Hussain