HYDE PARK, NY — To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), three historic sites will host a Human Rights Day expo on Sunday, December 10 beginning at 10 a.m. at the Henry A. Wallace Center in Hyde Park.

Commemoration events will include talks on human rights-related topics, animated films commissioned by the FDR Presidential Library and Museum, a concert and an expo highlighting a diverse group of local organizations supporting all facets of human rights. 

The Beatrix Farrand Garden will host a contemplative walk during the day, where people can explore the garden through the words of Eleanor Roosevelt and the UDHR. Roosevelt served as the first chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights and played an instrumental role in drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights according to the United Nations.

The library will have a temporary exhibit of Eleanor Roosevelt’s copy of the UDHR through December 2023.

“Eleanor Roosevelt said, ‘Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places, close to home,’” said National Park Service superintendent Amy Bracewell. “That resonates with me and all of our community partners who have helped commemorate this day. Taking care of your neighbors and community can have ripple effects that support everybody’s human rights.”

The Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site, the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site and the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum are involved, and the Dutchess County community planned and will host the event. 

The planning team included the National Park Service, the National Archives and Records Administration, the Dutchess County Human Rights Commission, the Beatrix Farrand Garden Association, the Eleanor Roosevelt Center at Val-Kill, the Hudson River Valley Greenway, the Roosevelt Institute and the United Nations Association, Mid-Hudson Valley Chapter.

“Students from around the world can learn about Eleanor Roosevelt’s work both in the library’s archival holdings and also at her nearby home, Val-Kill,” said William Harris, director of the Library. “Mrs. Roosevelt’s legacy illustrates the fundamental truth that we first begin to create positive change in our homes and communities. We encourage young people to get involved in their communities and, like Eleanor Roosevelt, build a better future for everyone.”

Proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948, the Declaration established clear rights for every human around the globe. As chairperson of the U.N. Committee for Human Rights, Eleanor Roosevelt spearheaded the drafting of the declaration and shepherded it through a divided U.N. to adoption. The tenets of the UDHR remain strongly relevant today.

Roosevelt’s service to the U.N. and the world cemented her legacy as a champion for human rights. Her tireless work on civil rights in the United States, her travels during World War II and her dedication to the UDHR still serve as a model to inspire new generations.

Learn more and see the full schedule at www.go.nps.gov/humanrightsexpo. 

Clifford Laube is the public programs specialist at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum in Hyde Park.