The Third Circuit Court Diversity and Inclusion Team’s Mission: "We appreciate our common connection and respect our diverse and unique human experiences. We move forward as an inclusive organization as we provide accessible and equal justice."

The Court’s Diversity & Inclusion Team strives to ensure the values of its diverse bench, staff, and court users are acknowledged and reflected in our delivery of service as well as our work environment.

In that spirit, the team creates and shares a monthly list of various holidays and observations along with some celebration suggestions. We invite our work community and the community at large to contribute.

DECEMBER 2023

December 1 – World AIDS Day

December 3 – International Day for People with Disabilities

December 3 – Advent

December 5 – International Volunteer Day

December 6 – Nat’l Day of Remembrance & Action on Violence Against Women

December 7 – Hanukkah begins at sunset (Jewish)

December 8 – Bodhi Day (Buddhist)

December 9 – International Genocide Prevention Day

December 10 – International Human Rights Day

December 16 – Las Posadas

December 18 – International Migrants Day

December 21 – Yule Winter Solstice (Pagan, Wiccan)

December 25 – Christmas (Christian)

December 26 – Kwanzaa week

December 26 – Boxing Day

December 31 – New Year’s Eve

Sources:

https://diversity.social/diversity-calendar-events/#15-diversity-calendar-2023  (Diversity for Social Impact)

https://www.worktango.com/resources/articles/dei-planning-calendar-for-2023 (Work Tango)

https://www.diversityresources.com/december-diversity-calendar-2023/  (Diversity Resources.com)

HIV/AIDS Awareness Month     

Though HIV/AIDS used to be at the center of national attention in decades past, it’s flown under the radar for the past several years. However, approximately 1.2 million people in the United States are living with HIV today. Of this number, a suspected 14% of them don’t know it and still need testing.

Each December is dedicated to HIV/AIDS Awareness Month. This is a time to support educational campaigns, spread science-based information, and fight for accessible and affordable testing and treatment. Unlike other types of diseases, HIV/AIDS face a hefty social stigma. Much of HIV/AIDS awareness month is about defeating this stigma once and for all. One of the main initiatives of HIV/AIDS Awareness Month is to shed light on science-based facts, spreading clear, accurate information while debunking myths.

Treatment for HIV/AIDS has come a long way in the past decades. It is possible to live a relatively normal life with an HIV/AIDS diagnosis, yet the stigma still affects many from different backgrounds. This month is a time to stand with those currently living with an HIV/AIDS diagnosis as well as to remember those who lost their lives along the way.

Source: What Is HIV/AIDS Awareness Month 2022? Date + History | Cake Blog (joincake.com)

Universal Human Rights Month

10 December 2023 marks the 75th anniversary of one of the world's most groundbreaking global pledges: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). This landmark document enshrines the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being - regardless of race, color, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.

The Declaration was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on 10 December 1948 and sets out, for the first time, fundamental human rights to be universally protected. 

Available in more than 500 languages, it is the most translated document in the world.

A year-long initiative focusing on universality, progress and engagement, will culminate in a high-level event in December 2023, which will announce global pledges and ideas for a vision for the future of human rights.

During December, we are encouraged to remember and celebrate those who have fought for human rights in the past and to also think about the ways in which we can continue to fight for them today.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was written together by people of different backgrounds with the goal of creating a basic standard for treating all human beings. It has since been used as a model for various human rights legislation. This day is known as Human Rights Day. Universal Human Rights month extends this celebration throughout the entire month of December.

Listed are the first 10 of the 30 articles adopted:

1. All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.

2. Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.

3. Everyone has the right to life, liberty, and security of person.

4. No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.

5. No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

6. Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.

7. All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law.

8. Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.

9.  No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.

10.  Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.

Source: Human Rights Day | United Nations