Celebrate International Human Rights Day!

Human Rights: Our Future Leaders

Date: December 7, 2017
Reception Begins 5:00pm
Speakers & Awards 6:00pm – 7:00pm

Venue: John Seigenthaler Center – 1207 18th Ave S, Nashville TN 37212

Purchase Tickets – $10
Proceeds will help Tennessee Students attend a Model UN session.

Join us for the Tennessee celebration of International Human Rights Day!

International Human Rights Day occurs every year to commemorate the ratification of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations on Dec 10, 1948. In Tennessee, Human Rights Day has become a day to reflect and look at lessons learned and battles won, while various human rights groups join forces and commit to creating an even better future.

Tennessee will celebrate Human Rights Day on December 7, 2017 in Nashville. The day begins at 5:00pm, with a reception and exhibits by human rights organizations. Then at 6:00pm, the presentations and awards will begin. Speakers will discuss various human rights topics related to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Awards will be presented for lifetime achievement and outstanding service in the field of human rights, along with recognition of rising advocates.

This year, Rising Advocate Awards will be given to three individuals who have made great strides for human rights and show even greater promise for the future. They are Kayo Beshir, an undergraduate student at Middle Tennessee State University who has worked on and off campus to promote human rights; Pratik Dash, who has worked both with Women On Maintaining Education and Nutrition (WOMEN) and the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC); and Madison White, a junior at Lipscomb University who has been actively involved in local pro bono legal clinics, and also volunteers her time with nonprofits such as Make a Wish Foundation, Second Harvest Food Bank and Free for Life International.

The award winners in the category of Outstanding Service are Jerry Redman, Co-Founder and CEO of Second Life Chattanooga which is an awareness and advocacy organization working to end human sex trafficking and Zulfat Suara, a strong advocate for minorities who is currently President Elect of the Tennessee Women Political Caucus and chair of the American Muslim Advisory Council (AMAC).

Lifetime Achievement awards will be presented to Thelma Harper, the first African-American woman State Senator of Tennessee who has a long history of service and Joey King, a Board Member for Veterans for Peace who has been active in several organizations to promote human rights, diversity and peace.

The planning committee is accepting nominations for awards and registrations for information tables to appear at the event, and it has issued a call to student artists for works depicting the articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Educators and youth group leaders should consider having their high-school aged students study the Declaration and submit works of art!

Want to help with the event? Contact us!

Download Last Year’s Program Booklet (pdf)