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Human Rights as Our Common Compass: Celebrating International Human Rights Day 2025

By Heising-Simons Foundation

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Each year on December 10, human rights leaders, advocates, and champions worldwide celebrate International Human Rights Day, honoring the United Nations General Assembly’s adoption and proclamation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10, 1948. 

To commemorate the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in San Francisco, California, the Heising-Simons Foundation had the honor of bringing together human rights leaders and champions for a morning of reflection and connection.  

This year’s theme, “Navigating with Unity: Human Rights as a Common Compass,” celebrated our shared humanity and the power of collective action to guide us through today’s most urgent challenges, from safeguarding democracy and advancing immigrant justice to ensuring dignity, safety, and freedom for all.

At the event, we heard from leaders who have navigated their own paths through conflict, displacement, and injustice, and are now lighting the path for others.

Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and founder of Nadia’s Initiative, Nadia Murad, spoke with Dr. Anna Malaika Tubbs about the power of survival, healing, and hope in her fight for justice for sexual violence survivors globally.

Former President of Colombia and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Juan Manuel Santos shared the stage with his son, Esteban Santos, for a fireside chat. The duo reflected on President Santos’ journey using human rights as a compass for peace and reconciliation to end the more than 50-year civil war in Colombia.

The event also featured inspiring presentations from Pulitzer Prize-Winning Journalist and Founder of Define American, Jose Antonio Vargas; President of the National Domestic Workers Alliance and Co-Founder of Caring Across Generations, Ai-jen Poo; and President of the National Immigration Law Center, Kica Matos.

“We as communities have to define who and what an American is,” said Jose, who discussed his journey working with communities to define what it means to be an American in the era of mis-and disinformation. “We are not replacing Americans; we’re replenishing this country.”

Ai-jen challenged the audience to reorient the entire approach to caregiving, from invisible, undervalued work, to one of investment in human capacity in the age of AI. “What if care jobs are the pathway for our generation to restore the American dream?” she asked the audience. “What if we were meant to be the generation to fundamentally change the way we value and support caregiving in America?”

“The path back to democracy is built on courage, compassion, and community,” Kica said while reflecting on recent examples of the power of local residents standing in solidarity with each other. “Each of us can rebuild (democracy) every time we stand together.”

We invite you to watch all the session recordings and access partner resources and photography on the 2025 International Human Rights Day webpage.

© Chloe Jackman Photography

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