Human rights can empower us all to shape a brighter future. It raises the question: what is the world we want? How can we become more peaceful, equal and sustainable?

This year's Human Rights Day, we focus on the critical role of human rights as a preventive, protective and transformative force for good.

To kick off the celebration and to mark Human Rights Defenders Day (9 December), the UN Human Rights Europe Office organized a full day spotlight event : Enhancing the Protection of Human Rights Defenders. The event took place in the European Parliament in Brussels and was led with the European Parliament's Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI), and in partnership with the EU HRD Mechanism - ProtectDefenders.eu and the Human Rights and Democracy Network (HRDN). Around 40 Human Rights Defenders, EU officers, Civil Society and NGO representatives participated in a morning workshop informing the high-level afternoon panel discussions. Watch the full recording here and stay tune for more information and details on the event and outcomes!

Along with the Spotlight event, the Office organized an exhibition of the "Kids for Human Rights" awardees in the European Parliament in Brussels. The exhibition showcased the 75 best painting from over 22,000 entries from children all over the world. The competition was organized last year in the context of the Human Rights 75 campaign, marking the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The Exhibition will be on display on the first floor of the European Parliament, Balcony 1G, Altiero Spinelli, until Friday 13 December, 2024.

Joining the celebration, Brussels' iconic Manneken Pis dusted off his Human Rights Day outfit to join the "Our Rights, Our Future" campaign.

You too can participate by protecting, learning or sharing about human rights. More material for the "Our Right, Our Future" can be found right here.