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50th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights

As the 50th year since the Third General Assembly of the United Nations, held on 10 December 1948, adopted the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, 1998 was an extremely significant year.
The Universal Declaration on Human Rights stipulates a number of common objectives which all the world's peoples and countries should achieve in order to respect and secure basic human rights and freedoms.
Japan was encouraged by the United Nations to hold commemorative events for this 50th anniversary in order to further widen awareness of the significance of the Declaration.
It was also the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the System of Civil Liberties Commissioners in Japan, inaugurated on 17 July 1948. Over the years, this system has contributed to propagating and heightening awareness of the concept of human rights, including wide dissemination among the public of the significance of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, and its course has been consistent with the course of human rights in the international community.
At the 25 September 1998 Cabinet meeting, the Minister of Justice and the Minister for Foreign Affairs reported that they would designate December the Celebration Month of the 50th Anniversaries of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and the System of Civil Liberties Commissioners to commemorate these 50th Anniversaries, and various commemorative events would be held in December 1998 so that all Japanese citizens might reaffirm the significance and importance of these and strengthen efforts in terms of education and the development of awareness in regard to respect for human rights in line with the National Action Plan for the UN Decade for Human Rights Education, formulated 4 July 1997.

1. Commemorative Ceremony for the 50th Anniversaries of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and the System of Civil Liberties Commissioners.
2. Commemorative Symposium for the 50th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights.
3. Issuance of stamps commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights.
4. National campaigns commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights.

Various other events were also held around the country to commemorate the 50th anniversaries of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and the System of Civil Liberties Commissioners.

Event Marking the 50th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights