The international observance is happening on Saturday, December 10, 2022 marking the 1948 adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations General Assembly.

The Multicultural Association of Wood Buffalo (MCA) is hosting a Conversation Café on the same day at the Fort McMurray International Airport from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. “The Conversation Café will feature five panelists along with youth ambassadors in partnership with MACOY (Mayor’s Advisory Council on Youth), who will discuss, and answer questions related to the theme of the year…This will be followed by multicultural entertainment from local artists and a multicultural lunch. Registration is required to attend as space is limited and can be done so by visiting bit.ly/MCAHumanRightsDay2022” according to the group’s news release.

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Rasha Hassan, Events Manager, MCA comments the “MCA has had a few Human Rights workshops since 2013 but the first Human Rights Conference was in 2016. MCA provides many programs and services to our diverse community in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB). It’s very important to raise awareness about human rights and how to bring our community together. Celebrating human rights is the best way to understand and respect our differences. It’s always awesome to see people come together from different platforms and have one goal of living together in peace.”

The RMWB will be displaying the I See You: Sawubona exhibit on the main floor of the Jubilee Building from Dec. 5-12 to mark Human Rights Day. Everyone from the community is encouraged to visit the exhibit during Jubilee’s operating hours from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

As per the Municipality, “The Sawubona exhibit was developed by the Regional Advisory Committee on Inclusion, Diversity and Equity (RACIDE) in partnership with Coalitions Creating Equity and supported by the RMWB and the Human Rights Education and Multiculturalism Fund. The exhibit is a powerful storytelling tool made up of many pieces including life-sized portraits, quotes and video stories of local people who have lived experience of discrimination based on their socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, religion, race, disability, and other grounds of discrimination. We are welcoming public comments about human rights in our community through a suggestion box that will be attached to the exhibit.”

Speaking exclusively to YMM Magazine online, RMWB Mayor Sandy Bowman notes:

“While its promise has yet to be fully realized, Human Rights Day remains an inspiration for the Municipality as we work in collaboration with others to remove barriers to access and opportunity and to consider systems that are more equal and inclusive. Upholding Human Rights is a responsibility of all. Uphold your rights, and while you do so, please also consider and protect the rights of others.”

So, what are you doing for Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for All?