Proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on 10 December 1948 in the wake of the atrocities of the Second World War, the Declaration stated for the first time fundamental human rights to be universally protected.
It has since been translated into more than 500 languages and is the international human rights benchmark.
The engraved plaque – unveiled on the grounds of Sutton Coldfield College - was sponsored by Sutton Coldfield and Birmingham funeral directors Lilies with support from West Midlands based Walsh Memorials.
It was unveiled by Birmingham-based historian and author Professor Carl Chinn who said: “I am delighted to have been invited to unveil this plaque which marks the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration for Human Rights.
“Amnesty International is an important organisation for justice, fairness and equality. It’s vital that we all reach out to each other and, in a word which is too often forgotten in the world today, respect each other.”
Sutton Coldfield Amnesty International chair, Andrew Hindle, said: “As Amnesty International members and supporters, our group believes the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is fundamental to everyone’s life.
“We wanted to show our celebration of this landmark achievement in defining and protecting human rights and are very grateful to Prof Carl Chinn, Sutton Coldfield College, Lilies and Walsh Memorials for supporting us to do that.”
Dagen Thompson, vice principal at Sutton Coldfield, who attended alongside Anna Jackson, BMet deputy principal and employees across different departments, said: “It is an absolute honour to have such a key emblem on our college grounds and in a communal area that can be seen by our students, staff and visitors.
“Having the plaque totally resonates with our ethos and values of equality, diversity and inclusion which runs throughout Sutton Coldfield College and across BMet.
“Furthermore, being able to partner with likeminded organisations who share our outlook, enables us to come together as a community in Sutton.”
