Minute for Mission: Human Rights Day

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Proverbs 31:8–9:8 reads: “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”

In 1948, the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that all human beings are born free and equal, with inherent dignity and indisputable rights. As Christians, God tells us the same message; in Genesis 1, God proclaims that every person was created in God's image and have inherently dignity as God’s children.

However, looking around at the current state of the world, we see brokenness and oppression. Too many suffer from violence, discrimination and poverty. In Proverbs 31, we are called to speak up for our neighbors; to be a voice for the voiceless. In this call, we are reminded that the work to protect human rights becomes a form of discipleship. We must seek justice for those who cannot seek it for themselves to answer God’s call to love our neighbors.

The struggle for liberation is interconnected worldwide. Our neighbors, both near and far, join us to fight for the protection of human rights around the world. Jesus embodied this struggle during his ministry on earth, proclaiming freedom and dignity for all people. Our call is to walk in Jesus’ footsteps by welcoming the stranger, protecting the oppressed and raising our voices for those who cannot.

On Human Rights Day, we remember that as a church, that faith without action is not enough. We are not only called to pray for justice but to pursue it through advocacy and compassion. There are so many people suffering around the world: individuals struggling with food insecurity in the United States, refugees fleeing war, climate-affected populations, Indigenous people and so many others. We must answer God’s call to protect, love and uplift our neighbor.

May this Human Rights Day awaken us with a holy restlessness. We must refuse to accept injustice and oppression as inevitable. We must reflect God’s image in the way we interact with our neighbors, the community and the world.

Madeleine So, Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations Young Adult Volunteer for 2025–2026

Let us join in prayer for:

PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff:

John Matekovic, Vice President, Income Security, Benefits, The Board of Pensions
Karl Mattison, VP of Planned Giving Resources, Planned Giving, The Presbyterian Foundation

Let us pray:

God of justice and mercy, on Human Rights Day, we remember that we were all made in your image. Give us courage to speak up for those who cannot, and faith to believe in your work and will. Help us to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with you, Lord. In your name we pray. Amen. 

Minute for Mission: Human Rights Day

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. — Galatians 3:28

Seventy-six years ago today, the United Nations officially adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a monumental document enshrining the rights and freedoms of all human beings. The declaration contains 30 articles, each one detailing a different fundamental right and freedom that all people are entitled to, simply for being human. Article 1 summarizes the content and sentiment of the document stating, “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.”

The charter was a beacon of hope in the aftermath of the atrocities of World War II and in a world shattered by political divisions, genocide and war. However, while the adoption of the charter brought a lot of hope, we have failed in many ways to equitably implement its promises. Just a quick glance at the morning news will show you that human rights and human dignity are not being respected in Gaza, Lebanon, Ukraine, Sudan, Haiti, the U.S.-Mexico border and countless other places across the globe. In all these places, we also see that the rights of women, children, Indigenous people, LGBTQ people and low-income people are especially vulnerable.

Despite the secular nature of the United Nations and language of the Human Rights Charter, respect for human rights and dignity is also a profoundly Christian call. In his letter to the Galatians, Paul reminds us that one's worth is not determined by their race, religion, gender or socioeconomic status. Rather, we are all created in equal worth and dignity through Jesus Christ. As Christians, we must receive Paul’s words as not a mere platitude, but as a call to action. Paul’s words must convict us to continue to fight for human rights for all people, recognizing that each and every human was created equal in dignity and worth.

Clare Balsan, Advocacy Associate, Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations

Let us pray:

We come to you today in lament for your many children across the world whose rights and dignity are not respected. We mourn for those whose lives have been taken or destroyed by injustice and oppression. Lord, light a fire of holy anger inside of us. Help us fight for justice, peace and equality knowing that through Christ, every human on this planet is our sibling. Give us strength and wisdom, as we strive to make this broken Earth resemble your kingdom. In your name we pray. Amen.

Minute for Mission: Human Rights Day

December 10, 2023

I charged your judges at that time: “Give the members of your community a fair hearing, and judge rightly between one person and another, whether citizen or resident alien. You must not be partial in judging: hear out the small and the great alike; you shall not be intimidated by anyone, for the judgment is God’s. Any case that is too hard for you, bring to me, and I will hear it.” Deuteronomy 1:16–17

Human rights violations are far too common in our world today. These violations come in the form of exploitation, discrimination, violence and many other horrors. These rights are God-given by our nature of being human and being God’s children. However, they have been simultaneously named by society and have been declared human rights by documents such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and countless examples of legal repercussions for those who have violated the rights of others. As Deuteronomy says, all people shall receive equal judgment and equal respect, regardless of identity, citizenship or political standing. The text also mentions that any question that is too tough for us to tackle as mortal beings should be brought unto God. It seems that the aspirations that we have for human rights and human rights law are in line with the aspirations that are set out for us in Deuteronomy. So, it is our duty as Christians to work toward the respect of human rights for all people, all the time. As we see brutal violence all over the world, in Israel and Palestine, in Ukraine, in Sudan and all over the world, we are called to speak for those who have been silenced by oppressive and exploitative forces. Listen to the voices of those oppressed in the same manner that we would listen to those in positions of power. When we feel overwhelmed by the horrors of human rights violations around the world, God calls us to bring these burdens before God. For all our human shortcomings, God sees no difference between the big and the small, the rich and the poor, the powerful and the powerless. We continue to strive to make our human rights laws reflective of the way God calls us to treat each other, while always knowing God is there to listen when we struggle with the ways that we have failed others.

Margaret Collins, Young Adult Volunteer, Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations

Today’s Focus: Human Rights Day

Let us join in prayer for:

PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff
Katie Snyder, Project Manager for Digital Fundraising and Interpretation, Ministry Engagement & Support, A Corp
Jeya So, Associate, Training & Leader Cohorts, Theology, Formation & Evangelism, Presbyterian Mission Agency

Let us pray

Dear Lord, we pray for all those who suffer under any form of human rights violations. We pray that they know they are loved and valued by God and the world. Lay your hands on them. Hear our calls for justice and continue to push us to act in a way that would please you. Guide us as we strive for equality and respect for all of your children. Amen.

Minute for Mission: Human Rights Day

December 10, 2022

Photo provided.

Human beings often forget that all life is sacred.

On this day in 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) declared the sacredness of all human life due to its “inherent dignity” and its “equal and inalienable rights.”

In 1948, people across the world declared in the UDHR that “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They … should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”

And yet, segregation did not legally end in America until 1964.

In 1948, the UDHR declared, “Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.”

And yet, Black people were being lynched until 1968.

Human beings often forget that all life is sacred.

And as the preamble of the UDHR states, without a recognition of this sacredness of all life, there will be no “freedom, justice and peace in the world.”

In 1948, the United Nations declared a recognition of this inherent sacredness, and yet, in 2020 Black people were murdered across America and protests broke out across the world in their wake.

In 1948, humanity declared a movement toward freedom, justice and peace, and yet, we are still fighting for that today.

Mother Teresa once said, “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to one another.”

The past two years have revealed a very obvious lack of peace in our world.

There has been tumult in America, Afghanistan, Israel and Palestine, and many other parts of the world because human beings have forgotten that they belong to one another.

In his book Sacred Earth, Sacred Soul, John Philip Newell writes, “Why did the #MeToo movement take off so quickly in recent years in which hundreds of thousands of women came forward to speak out against abuse? Why did the Black Lives Matter protests burst onto the international stage within days of the George Floyd murder in Minneapolis? In each of these situations, deep down, we know something sacred was at stake. And we woke up.”

Human Rights Day is a call to wake up.

It is a reminder that we all belong to one another. That all life is sacred.

In 1948, we knew something sacred was at stake. And today, something sacred is still at stake.

It is time for us to wake up.

Angelina DeVincenzo, Field Education Intern with Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations, Second-Year M.Div. Student, Princeton Theological Seminary

Let us join in prayer for:

PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff
Kathy Lueckert, President, Administrative Services Group (A Corp)
Samantha Lund, Legal Office Administrator, Administrative Services Group (A Corp)

Let us pray

God, we come to you today acknowledging that we often forget that all life is sacred.
We come to you admitting that we often forget we all belong to one another.
So today, Lord, give us curiosity before judgment,
give us love before hate,
give us belonging before division.
Help us to be more aware of the sacred Light in each person.
Help us to permanently wake up today.

Minute for Mission: Human Rights Day

December 10, 2021

Photo provided.

Human beings often forget that all life is sacred.

On this day in 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) declared the sacredness of all human life due to its “inherent dignity” and its “equal and inalienable rights.”

In 1948, people across the world declared in the UDHR that “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They … should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”

And yet, segregation did not legally end in America until 1964.

In 1948, the UDHR declared, “Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.”

And yet, Black people were being lynched until 1968.

Human beings often forget that all life is sacred.

And as the preamble of the UDHR states, without a recognition of this sacredness of all life, there will be no “freedom, justice and peace in the world.”

In 1948, the United Nations declared a recognition of this inherent sacredness, and yet, in 2020 Black people were murdered across America and protests broke out across the world in their wake.

In 1948, humanity declared a movement toward freedom, justice and peace and yet, we are still fighting for that today.

Mother Teresa once said, “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to one another.”

The past two years have revealed a very obvious lack of peace in our world.

There has been tumult in America, Afghanistan, Israel and Palestine, and many other parts of the world because human beings have forgotten that they belong to one another.

In his book “Sacred Earth, Sacred Soul,” John Philip Newell writes, “Why did the #MeToo movement take off so quickly in recent years in which hundreds of thousands of women came forward to speak out against abuse? Why did the Black Lives Matter protests burst onto the international stage within days of the George Floyd murder in Minneapolis? In each of these situations, deep down, we know something sacred was at stake. And we woke up.”

Human Rights Day is a call to wake up.

It is a reminder that we all belong to one another. That all life is sacred.

In 1948, we knew something sacred was at stake. And today, something sacred is still at stake.

It is time for us to wake up.

Angelina DeVincenzo, Field Education Intern with Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations, Second-Year M.Div. Student, Princeton Theological Seminary

Let us join in prayer for:

PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff
Rich Embry, Systems Developer, IT Application Development, Administrative Services Group (A Corp)
David English, Trust Officer, Presbyterian Foundation

Let us pray

God, we come to you today acknowledging that we often forget that all life is sacred.
We come to you admitting that we often forget we all belong to one another.
So today, Lord, give us curiosity before judgment,
give us love before hate,
give us belonging before division.
Help us to be more aware of the sacred Light in each person.
Help us to permanently wake up today.
Amen.

Minute for Mission: Human Rights Day

December 10, 2020

“All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.”  That’s how the first article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights begins. The declaration was drafted in response to the calamities and barbarous acts experiences by people all over the world during World War II. This year marks the 72nd anniversary of this historic document in moral consciousness that has been a beacon of hope and purpose throughout the world. The United States was instrumental in this effort, and Eleanor Roosevelt was the driving force in the drafting the document that would become the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 

Historically, the U.S. has been looked upon as the beacon for human rights around the world. However, in 2018, the U.S. withdrew from the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC). This is regrettable because HRC provides a forum to fight against human rights abuses around the world. Without the presence of the U.S. at HRC, there is concern that a void will create conditions for further human rights abuses. Our office, the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations, wrote a letter to Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N. at the time, asking her to reconsider that decision and rejoin the world body.   

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has a historic commitment to human rights. Our faith in Jesus Christ calls us to stand for the rights of all people in accordance with God’s wish for humanity. We affirm the value of human dignity that all human beings are created equally in the “image and likeness of God.”

As people of God, we are called to stand together and work together for the dignity of all people. While it may seem daunting to think about human rights on a global scale, Eleanor Roosevelt tells us that universal human rights begin in small places, close to home, in our neighborhoods, workplaces and schools. “Such are the places where every man, woman and child seek equal justice, equal opportunity, equal dignity without discrimination. Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere. Without concerned citizen action to uphold them close to home, we shall look in vain for progress in the larger world.”

Sue Rheem, Mission Specialist for International Advocacy, Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations

Let us join in prayer for: 

PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff

Yvonne Wathen, Office of the General Assembly

Let us pray:

Gracious God, you have loved us into being. You have created us for yourself. You have created us in your image. Help us to treat all human beings as your people. Help us to work together in our congregations, our towns and cities, our state and national capitals and across the world in global partnership to achieve reforms that promote and protect human dignity and rights. Amen.