International Human Rights Day
trcf marketing • December 10, 2025
Today, December 10, we celebrate and recognize International Human Rights Day. International Human Rights Day is celebrated annually, recognizing the United Nations’ Universal Declaration on Human Rights. The rights proclaimed aim to protect inalienable, fundamental human rights for persons in every nation. However, as we celebrate and recognize this day in the United States, I believe it is vital that we recognize the ways in which our government does not protect these rights.
The United States has played a hand, as well as a moral highground, in many treaties and declarations pertaining to the protection of human rights. However, this nation has ratified very few of these treaties. The United States has thus far ratified the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Genocide Convention), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), and the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT). Notably, the United States has not ratified Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
While the United States claims to be the land of liberty and justice, it is extremely clear domestically and internationally, that we will weaken our beliefs and enforcements regarding human rights to maintain a system of power imbalance. Per the American Civil Liberties Union, the United States utilizes the ability to attach a document called Reservations, Understandings, and Declarations to each ratification, making these declarations much harder to enforce. This should come as no surprise, considering that the United States currently violates many, if not all, of the inalienable rights proclaimed in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights.
Within this specific post, and at this current moment, I would like to focus on two specific articles, but I encourage you all to read the declaration in its entirety (https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights) and reflect on the ways in which our government falls short in these protections.
In Article 9 of the declaration, it states “No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention, or exile.” Not only has our prison industrial complex subjected many people, a majority people of color, to arbitrary arrest, but especially at this moment in time, we see Immigration Customs and Enforcement kidnapping people off the street. Articles 5-11 all pertain to just law enforcement, which has been an issue since the inception of the United States. Our legal systems target people of color as well as low income people, and make profit off of the horrible conditions these humans are kept in. Trials are unfair, police brutalize communities of color, and rehabilitation is not practiced. Within the very simple ideal of “no person shall be subject to arbitrary arrest,” we fail. Failure in that sentiment only showcases how our legal systems further violate human rights in every other facet.
Article 25 states “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.” This article is violated in every sense by the United States. In a country with 36.8 million people living in poverty, 27 million uninsured Americans, a country that has recently slashed the budget of food assistance programs, and a country that still has the federal minimum wage sitting at a measly $7.25 per hour, I find it curious, laughable almost, that we would even consider for a second that we uphold and enforce this right. Our country exploits the lower and working class, aiming to make money at every corner. Working individuals and families cannot make rent or pay their mortgage, they’re unable to pay for medications, putting food on the table is a concern for many, and some have to choose between keeping electricity or the copay for a doctor's visit. The United States does not only completely violate and disregard this right, but our systems attempt to make money off of the ways in which people struggle.
While our current state of affairs is far from perfect, and the current climate is somewhat abysmal, it does bring me peace and hope to recognize the everyday people in communities fighting for these rights. There are people everywhere doing grassroots work to fight for a future in which these rights are enforced and protected. I encourage you to take a look around in your community, recognize these people and organizations, stand with them, support them, fight for them, and take care of each other. We recognize this day not for our belief in the government to protect these rights, but more so for our belief in each other.
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My name is Maddie Morelli and I am in my final year of the BASW program at the University of Pittsburgh. For the 2025-26 school year, I will be interning at Three Rivers Community Foundation. I am extremely excited to learn from all the wonderful people at TRCF, as well as learn from the people in the community.
