Ceremony Honoring Eleanor Roosevelt — Geneva, Dec. 5th, 2008

On December 5th, 2008, a ceremony in Geneva marked the inauguration of a commemorative plaque honoring Eleanor Roosevelt, the principal author of the Universal Declaration, and the Member States of the first Commission on Human Rights. The plaque stands to the left of Place des Nations.

Attendees included Swiss Federal Councilor Micheline Calmy-Rey, Minister of Foreign Affairs Manuel Tornare, Mayor of Geneva Anne Herdt, and David Roosevelt, grandson of Eleanor Roosevelt.

Read more on the Eleanor Roosevelt page or see the fuller account under Events Around the World.

Eleanor Roosevelt brought an unyielding sense of moral clarity to the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. As chair of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, she navigated deep ideological divisions among nations to forge a document that would speak to every person, in every land. Her leadership was defined not by political calculation but by a driving belief that ordinary people deserved a framework of protection and dignity that no government could revoke. That conviction transformed a diplomatic process into a living promise that continues to shape the global understanding of fundamental freedoms.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights emerged from a world still reeling from conflict, yet its authors insisted on looking forward rather than back. The text does not merely condemn past atrocities; it articulates a positive vision of what every human being is entitled to enjoy. From the right to education and work to the freedoms of thought, assembly, and participation in public life, the Declaration sketches a comprehensive portrait of human flourishing. Its thirty articles remain the bedrock upon which subsequent human rights instruments have been built, each one extending the reach of that original moral commitment.

The Task Force that gathered these resources understood that commemoration without education risks becoming empty ritual. By assembling primary documents, historical context, and teaching materials, the project ensures that Eleanor Roosevelt's legacy remains accessible to students and researchers who were born long after the Declaration's adoption. The site functions as a bridge between the mid-century moment of the UDHR's passage and the present day, where its principles are tested in new arenas. This ongoing work of transmission honors the spirit of the Declaration itself, which depends for its meaning on each generation learning it anew.

Geneva holds a special place in the geography of human rights, and the commemorative ceremony held there anchored Eleanor Roosevelt's contributions in the city where so much of the international rights framework took shape. A plaque and memorial now stand as quiet witnesses to that history, visited by diplomats, students, and passersby who pause to consider what it means to dedicate one's life to ensuring that rights are not merely declared but lived. The presence of Swiss and international officials at the inauguration underscored how one person's leadership can radiate outward across decades and borders.

The resources gathered here extend beyond the text of the Declaration itself to encompass the broader universe of human rights instruments that followed in its wake. Treaties, covenants, and conventions addressing the rights of children, the elimination of discrimination, and the protection of vulnerable populations all trace their lineage back to that foundational document. By presenting these instruments alongside educational materials, the site invites visitors to see human rights not as a static list but as a living tradition that grows more detailed and more demanding with each passing year.

Teachers and youth constitute a special audience for this material, because the survival of human rights culture depends on young people encountering these ideas early enough to internalize them. The educational sections of the site offer pathways into complex topics without oversimplifying the moral stakes involved. Whether a student first meets the UDHR in a classroom discussion, a school assembly, or through independent research, the goal is the same: to spark recognition that these rights belong to them, and that defending the rights of others is inseparable from claiming one's own.

The commemorative events documented on this site reveal how memory and meaning intertwine across time. A ceremony on a December day in Geneva, a documentary capturing the voices of those who carry Eleanor Roosevelt's legacy forward, a brochure handed to attendees — each artifact becomes part of a larger story about how societies choose to remember their moral achievements. These moments of collective reflection do more than honor the past; they renew the energy required to face contemporary human rights challenges with the same determination that animated the Declaration's authors.

The neighborhood where a person lives, the school or college they attend, the factory, farm, or office where they work — these everyday settings are precisely where human rights find their real-world meaning. The Declaration was never intended to remain an abstraction debated in conference halls. Its force is measured in the life of each individual who can speak freely, worship according to conscience, or seek remedy against injustice. This site stands as a reminder that the distance between a plaque in Geneva and a classroom on any continent is shorter than it appears, because the rights proclaimed belong equally to all.

The Task Force

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

The UDHR was the first international recognition of fundamental human rights and remains the world's most translated document, available in more than 360 language versions. Its 2008 anniversary theme was "Dignity and justice for all of us."

On December 10, Human Rights Day, the Secretary-General launched a year-long campaign leading to the UDHR's 60th birthday, observed on Human Rights Day 2008. Read the full overview on the UDHR page and explore related texts under Human Rights Instruments.

Education: Teachers & Youth

Materials for classroom use and youth engagement activities connect students to the history of the UDHR and Eleanor Roosevelt's role in its drafting. Visit the Teacher & Youth Sections for educational content, or browse Resources for supporting documents.

News & Resources

The News section references "A Beautiful Friendship," an article by Bernard Kouchner on the Universal Declaration's origins, alongside a Promotional Flyer and an Eleanor Roosevelt Brochure dated November 2, 2008. Visit News for these items.

The Resources section links to an 8-minute documentary on Eleanor Roosevelt's legacy and to external organizations fawco.org and ohchr.org. See Resources for the full list.

Get in Touch

Questions or comments about Eleanor Roosevelt and this site can be sent through the Contact page, which lists the Task Force Chairperson and Website Coordinator.