International Day of Human Rights 10. December 

A new symbol for human rights. Predrag Štakić with his logo “Free as a man”.

The graphic designer’s work won convincingly in a worldwide competition for a human rights logo which Federal Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle launched in Berlin in May 2011.
The winning design was one of around 15,300 entries from more than 190 countries. And the power of this new logo will be especially important on December 10: this is the day the United Nations (UN) declared as international Human Rights Day. The world community celebrates this day each year to commemorate the creation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations General Assembly on December 10, 1948. The Nobel Peace Prize is also traditionally awarded in Oslo on December 10. In 2011 it will be received by the journalist from Yemen, Tawakkul Karman, the Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and the Liberian civil rights activist Leymah Gbowee. All three women have stood up for democracy and women’s rights in their countries.
The first task of the Commission on Human Rights, composed of 18 member states, was to agree on a set of rights that every person, regardless of national origin, acquired by birth. The process was painstaking. The views of representatives from Eastern and Western Europe have dramatically different, and the attitudes of representatives of Asia and the Middle East. The representative of the United States was Eleanor Roosevelt, who is one of the most influential women of her time. Vladislav Ribnikar from Belgrade, represented Yugoslavia. As time went by two schools of thought became apparent. Eleanor Roosevelt insisted that the issue of human rights essentially the protection of the individual against the state. Ribnikar said that the "personal freedom can only be acquired in a perfect harmony between the individual and the community." After nearly two years to negotiate differences are overcome and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted. The preamble of the document calls on countries to "promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance".
The protection of human rights is great concern in Serbian politics. Serbia sees respect for human rights as a basic essential for lasting peace and economic development. All we can do more to promote human rights. We believe that the protection of human rights is a goal and a continuous process of protecting the rights and the preservation of freedom. Our achievements in the field of human rights on a daily basis are discussed in the press and general public discourse throughout the country.