by Hyo Eun Shin, CAS Strong Communities team. 

This article was first published in The Herald on 13 December 2025.

When I first moved to the UK from Germany, I was struck by a vibrant culture of giving and receiving cards. From births, relationships, and anniversaries to new jobs or the loss of a loved one, people exchanged cards to mark all types of key life events; sharing goodwill, compassion, and love. Cards held wishes and aspirations for the new year and other annual festivities that carry deep meaning, often proudly displayed in people’s homes.  

Among the huge variety of cards however, I’ve never been able to find the one that I think deserves celebrating with everyone - International Human Rights Day on 10 December.  

Coming out of the shadows of WWII, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was drafted by people with various cultural and legal backgrounds from different parts of the world. Adopted by the UN General Assembly on 10 December 1948, this milestone document set out fundamental human rights that were to be universally protected to secure peace, justice and freedom for everyone everywhere.  

Since then, human rights have been enshrined in international and regional human rights treaties. Countries around the world - including the UK – worked on and ratified them, bringing some into domestic law, helping people to hold the powerful to account.  

Human Rights legally recognise the everyday essentials we need to live our lives with dignity. This includes the right to a safe and warm home, food and clean water, and adequate clothing; and to the best attainable standard of mental and physical health and the right to social security. It also includes the right to learn and access education, and to work and be treated fairly at work. 

Interdependent with these rights are the right to life, to freedom from slavery and torture, freedom of expression, assembly, religion or belief, rights to non-discrimination, access to justice, and to equality before the law. Our human rights are there to guide government and public bodies and protect us from laws, practices and actions that deny us our human dignity.  

Every day the Scottish CAB network supports people in their local communities to realise these rights and to help when they are not met. Our free, confidential and person-centred advice empowers thousands of people across the country to realise their rights. People like Joanne who was stuck in a cold, mouldy home, worrying how to afford food and give her baby a healthy start in life. Like Mark whose disabled son was in prison and could not access his medication. Like Sarah who was at risk of being declared incapable of managing her own affairs and being sent to a care home against her will.  

Last year, CABs across Scotland supported people with challenging decisions and practices by public authorities, from social security providers, local authorities and the NHS, to the police, prisons and schools with more than 65,000 pieces of advice. In addition, our network continues to campaign and advocate for changes that will uphold and strengthen our everyday rights.  

So, I think it’s high time we all sent a Happy International Human Rights Day card to mark this key event and remind everyone why we all deserve to live with dignity and happiness.