Why Human Rights and Christmas Belong Together
As December rolls in, lights go up, carols return, and the world edges towards Christmas — there’s another date that often slips quietly by: December 10, Human Rights Day.
It’s the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, signed in 1948 — a promise that every human being has the right to live in dignity, safety, freedom, and equality. That might sound like something for courtrooms or history books, but the truth is more personal.
Human Rights Day isn’t just a global observance. It’s a mirror. A quiet invitation. To pause. To remember what really matters.
What Human Rights Mean in Real Life
For those of us working in healing spaces — whether in therapy rooms, community settings, or simply as fellow humans walking alongside others — we see the truth of it every day:
- The right to feel safe in your own home.
- The right to speak your truth and be heard.
- The right to rest, to grieve, to grow.
- The right to not be afraid.
These aren’t luxuries. They’re the ground we stand on. When they’re missing, it shows — in our bodies, our nervous systems, our relationships. And yet… healing is still possible.
December 10 reminds us: every person deserves that chance.
Why This Matters at Christmas
Christmas isn’t just about sparkle and gifts. At its heart, it’s a story of shelter offered to a weary couple, of light breaking into darkness, of a child born into uncertainty — and still, hope arriving anyway.
That’s the real bridge between Human Rights Day and Christmas. Both ask us to slow down, to notice who’s struggling, to make room — not just at our tables, but in our lives.
- Dignity isn’t just a legal term. It’s the feeling of being welcomed.
- Justice isn’t only for courtrooms. It’s fairness in how we treat one another.
- Peace isn’t just an ideal. It’s the quiet steadiness we offer someone when they’re falling apart.
A Therapist’s Reflection
I’ve spent years walking with people through trauma — military veterans, survivors of violence, those carrying wounds no one else can see. And I’ve learned something simple, but unforgettable:
Healing begins when someone feels safe enough to be seen.
That’s a human right too — the right to be more than your past, more than your pain. The right to matter.
When December comes, emotions rise. Christmas can stir grief, loneliness, or pressure. For many, it’s not festive — it’s fragile. And that’s why days like December 10 are so important. They remind us to bring kindness into the room. Gentleness. A little more patience. A lot more listening.
This season, people don’t need perfect solutions. They need presence.
Stories That Matter
As a writer, I believe stories shape us — and the story we tell at Christmas matters deeply. It’s not about pretending all is well. It’s about holding each other in what is real.
Imagine a Christmas that didn’t just look magical — but felt safe. Where no one was left outside the warmth. Where children, families, neighbours — and even strangers — felt seen.
That starts with us. With how we speak. With how we care. With what we choose to notice.
What Can You Do This Christmas?
- Make eye contact. Listen longer. Presence is a gift.
- Offer support. Donate, reach out, stand up for someone whose voice is silenced.
- Pause before you judge. Everyone’s carrying something.
- Check in on those who go quiet. Silence often hides pain.
- Let people know they matter. Especially now.
This Christmas, Carry the Light of December 10
You don’t need a campaign or a cause. Just a moment of truth — with yourself, with others.
Human Rights Day and Christmas both remind us: the world changes not just through laws or leaders, but through how we treat each other.
So this December — give gifts, light candles, hang stars. But also… Offer dignity. Give space. Show care. Hold hope.
Because in the end, the greatest gift is being seen — and still welcomed.
Online EMDR Therapy UK | Accredited Trauma-Informed Therapist – Roger Hughes 
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