NEWBURGH – The City of Newburgh Human Rights Commission (HRC) marked the 75th anniversary of the Declaration of Human Rights with a themed program of “Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for All” at its annual Human Rights Day celebration on Sunday, December 10th. The event was held at the Newburgh Free Library Auditorium, and was free and open to the community.
This year’s keynote address was delivered by New York State Supreme Court Justice and former Newburgh City Court Judge E. Loren Williams. New York State Human Rights Commissioner Maria Imperial was also in attendance to help mark the occasion as a special guest of honor to present HRC’s 2023 “Human Rights Heroes” awards.

This City of Newburgh HRC celebration coincides with the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), first adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948. The UDHR is a landmark document that ushered in an era of expanded human rights for all peoples. In recent years, we have witnessed a sustained and intensifying attack on historically vulnerable and marginalized groups. The City of Newburgh’s HRC is an expression of our community’s values and stands strongly for the equal dignity and worth of every person.