Taking a Stand- Human Rights Day

By Rachel Peck, Intern

“All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”  – Article 1, The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

December 10, 1948 in Paris the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed The Universal Declaration of Human Rights to be the standard for all peoples and nations. Comprised of 30 Articles, the Declaration was written by many different legal and cultural representatives and has been translated into hundreds of different languages. In 1950, the Assembly invited all interested states and organizations to recognize and celebrate December 10th, as Human Rights Day. This year, the United Nations chosen  theme is,“Take a stand for someone’s rights today!” for Human Rights Day. The UN is asking for those looking to participate to educate themselves on the Declaration and to speak up for those whose voice isn’t heard.

maria-delorasPure Water for the World ( PWW) stands up for human rights by providing education and the tools needed to improve the quality of life for many in Haiti and Honduras. By providing safe water filters, hygiene education and sanitation to families and communities, PWW promotes the rights all humans have to safe water and healthy lives, the right for girls to have proper training and preparation for menstruation and the right for kids to be healthy enough to attend school.


Rosa Lilian, from Trojes, Honduras, spends two hours every day walking to a spring where she collects water for the day and washes her family’s clothing. She shares the spring with four other families and says she is thankful that her sons aren’t sick, so they can help carry the water. The same cannot be said for her youngest, Meilyn, who is often sick with stomach issues, due to the contaminated water from the spring. Since the spring is miles away, there is no way they can protect it from animals, and as such,the water isn’t pure, but it is all they have. Rosa and her family are many of the thousands without access to safe water. Thankfully, her community is one of the three Honduran communities involved in PWW’s
BBQ project. A project that is dedicated to providing safe water and sanitation to the people of El Boqueron, El Bosque and Quebrada De Oro.

Join us, not just today, but everyday in standing up for these human rights to safe drinking water , proper sanitation, and education. These are just not needs, they are necessities for living healthy, productive lives.  See how you can make a difference!