December 10 is Human Rights Day, a day to commemorate the December 10, 1948 adoption of the United Nations General Assembly's Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  This statement says in part:   

...THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY proclaims THIS UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction...  

This day is remembered with conferences and cultural events with the purpose of raising awareness about human rights issues around the world.  You can find the complete Universal Declaration of Human Rights at: http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html.