Today is International Human Rights Day, the 59th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations General Assembly.

Adopted on Dec. 10, 1948, the landmark document calls upon all member countries to publicize and enact its provisions.

The declaration, which starts with “Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,� contains a preamble and 30 articles that, according to the UN, elaborate the core values of universal human dignity, non-discrimination, equality and fairness for all.

The UDHR is the most translated document in the world (more than 360 languages, at last count.) To see the document translated into those languages, click here.

The UDHR is generally believed to be the foundation of international law.

Louise Arbour, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, said that given the ongoing struggles against violence, racism, xenophobia, torture and repression of speech and other injustices, and the growing divide between rich and poor, the vulnerable and the powerful, aggressors and their victims, the relevance of the document needs to be loudly reaffirmed.

“It is difficult to imagine today just what a fundamental shift the Universal Declaration of Human Rights represented when it was adopted …,” she said. “In a post-war world scarred by the Holocaust, divided by colonialism and wracked by inequality, a charter setting out the first global and solemn commitment to the inherent dignity and equality of all human beings, regardless of color, creed or origin, was a bold and daring undertaking.”

Today also marks the start of the year-long commemoration of the upcoming 60th anniversary of the declaration.

The theme for year-long celebration is “Dignity and justice for all of us.�

For the full text of the UDHR, click here.