Why December 10 is celebrated as International Human Rights Day
December 10 every year is observed as International Human Rights Day. On this day in 1996, South African President Nelson Mandela signed into law a new constitution for South Africa. The new constitution legally-established racial equality and consigned apartheid to history. The location where the constitution was signed was significant and symbolic of the betrayal and brutality of past governments. Here's a brief history about the day and it's significance.