Human Rights Day

Human Rights Day is celebrated annually on December 10th, which is the day the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. Human Rights Day commemorates the Universal Declaration of Human Rights being the first global enunciation of human rights and for being one of the first major achievements of the United Nations.

On Human Rights Day, many high-level political conferences, meetings, and cultural events/exhibitions dealing with human rights issues will take place. Many governmental and non-governmental organizations that are involved in the human rights field will schedule events to celebrate the day. Additionally, the United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights and the Nobel Peace Prizes are awarded.

Human Rights Day With KnowledgeFlow

In honour of Human Rights Day, we wanted to share with you some of the online rights you have and how to protect your rights to the internet while online. Human rights apply equally online as they do offline, and as our daily lives are conducted more and more online, our digital rights are increasingly more important.

The following articles are from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, of which Canada played an active role in the drafting process by being one of the original 48 member states that voted in its favour. Although the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is not legally binding, its principles and values are upheld and reflected in Canada’s legal framework and included in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. These principles shape Canada’s approach to human rights domestically and in international policy, as well as the digital rights of all Canadians.

📜 Article 13: The Right to Freedom of Expression

The Right to Freedom of Expression is a fundamental freedom that everyone has, and in the context of the digital world, the right to freedom of expression protects the rights of the press, the media, and your personal voice to speak out online.

📜 Article 14: The Right to Freedom of Thought, Conscience, and Religion

The Right to Freedom of Thought, Conscience, and Religion is also a fundamental freedom, guaranteeing the freedom of Canadians to follow the religion of their choice, to believe the ideas they want to believe, and to freely express and create their ideas. Online, this can look like having the freedom to advocate for your beliefs.

📜 Article 15: The Right to Freedom of Association and Peaceful Assembly

Similarly to Articles 13 and 14, the Right to Freedom of Association and Peaceful Assembly is also a fundamental freedom. This right protects an individual’s rights to gather with others, discuss their ideas, and communicate them to others. Online, your Right to Freedom of Association and Peaceful Assembly can look like having the freedom to join online forums or discussions or to affiliate yourself online with a group that upholds a set of beliefs.

📜 Article 16: The Right to Privacy

Your Right to Privacy in the digital world states that everyone has a right to the protection and confidentiality of their personal information. This can look like understanding what you are or are not agreeing to share when accepting the terms and conditions of an app, or your right to not have your personal information such as phone number, address, or other sensitive information saved when you fill out online forms.

For more on your personal digital privacy, check out our Data Privacy Week: Why It Should Matter To You Personally blog to learn about how personal data is used and how to protect your personal information.

📜 Article 17: The Right to Information and Material From a Diversity of Resources

Your Right to Information and Material From a Diversity of Resources enables you to consume information from a variety of sources and to use whatever resources are at your disposal to form your personal opinions. This right encourages you to develop your own thoughts, ideas, and perceptions about the world and enables you to do all the necessary research in order to make personal and informed decisions.

Check out our Comprehensive External Resources and Helpful Links cybersafety resource that offers a curated selection of expert advice, educational materials, and practical tips across a variety of topics to do with your personal online safety!

🔗 Extra Resources

Below, we’ve provided additional resources to help make sure you stay informed on what your personal rights online are as well as how to make sure you stay protected, and most importantly, why this is all important.

• The CyberEthics Podcast: Privacy In Education Ft. Claudiu
• Typology Of Online Harms: 6 Main Topics Of Cybersafety 
• Think – Prevent, Detect, Correct: Cybersecurity Principles 
• Identity Management: 4 Ways To Protect Your Online Identity 

We hope everyone enjoys Human Rights Day this year! Take some time to make sure you and your loved ones are exercising your freedoms online and doing so in a safe manner.