December 08, 2021
Carbondale Warming Center to receive human rights award
CARBONDALE, Ill. – The Southern Illinois chapter of the United Nations Association USA will recognize the staff of the Carbondale Warming Center for its efforts to secure the human rights of a vulnerable population during an award ceremony on Friday, Dec. 10.
The 2021 Human Rights Day Award presentation will be at 2 p.m. in Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s University Museum. The ceremony is free and open to the public. Human Rights Day, which is on Dec. 10, commemorates the day in 1948 when the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The event is part of UNA-USA Southern Illinois chapter’s 12th annual ceremony.
Cindy Buys, a professor in the SIU School of Law and UNA-USA Southern Illinois board member, will briefly discuss the history of Human Rights Day and the “importance of continuing work to ensure respect for human rights of all without discrimination.” This year’s Human Day Rights theme is “Equality: Reducing Inequalities and Advancing Human Rights.”
Initially established in 2019 as a nighttime winter shelter to supplement the city’s existing shelter system, the Carbondale Warming Center, 608 East College St., has since expanded its hours and is open throughout the year and has expanded its services to be much more than an overnight shelter.
“The work of the Warming Center furthers several of the United Nation’s sustainable development goals to reduce hunger, promote good health and well-being, and ensure access to clean water,” said Pamela Umlauf-Brown, the UNA-USA Southern Illinois chapter president.
The ceremony will be compliant with the Restore Illinois Plan. The university is committed to protecting the community, so all those attending must follow current campus and state pandemic safety protocols and wear masks in shared indoor spaces.