20211122-002a: World Human Rights Day Proclamation — original pdf

Recommendation

COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Human Rights Commission Recommendation Number 20211122-002a: Human Rights Day Proclamation WHEREAS, Human Rights Day is observed every year on December 10 — the day the United Nations General Assembly adopted, in 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).; and WHEREAS, The UDHR is a milestone document that proclaims the inalienable rights which everyone is entitled to as a human being; and WHEREAS, Article 2 of the UDHR states, “Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.”; and WHEREAS, The COVID-19 crisis has been fueled by deepening poverty, rising inequalities, structural and entrenched discrimination, and other gaps in human rights protection; and WHEREAS, Certain base elements of American society are working to strip away human rights by using fear and intimidation to deny access to the ballot box, women’s healthcare, and freedom of expression and to freedom from harm by irresponsible gun owners; and WHEREAS, Every American has a right to lead healthy lives, but there are many elected officials in Texas and across America who work to normalize unnecessary deaths by stating that grandparents owe our society a death and by doing all they can to make it easier for every human, regardless of age, to contract a deadly disease; and WHEREAS, The United States Declaration of Independence states that we are granted “with certain unalienable Rights, that amongst these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”   NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Austin City Council strongly encourages its residents to: Stand up to every person and organization who are working to take away the basic human 1. rights of freedom of expression, to being housed affordably, to wide access to voting, and to all forms of healthcare. 2. Pursue your happiness wherever you may find it and to share it with your community. Date of Approval: November 22, 2021 Record of the vote: 6-1; Commissioner Garry Brown motion, Chair Davis second. Voting in favor were Chair Davis, Commissioner Areche, Commissioner Garry Brown, Commissioner Jamarr Brown, Commissioner Griffith, and Commissioner Weigel. Commissioner Brienzi voted against. Vice Chair Casas, Commissioner Breckenridge, Commissioner Caballero, and Commissioner Museitif were absent. Attest: Jonathan Babiak Jonathan Babiak, Staff Liaison