The community is invited to attend the Universal Human Rights Day Celebration on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, at 10 a.m. at the McCoart Administration Building, located at 1 County Complex Court in Woodbridge.  

This year’s theme, “Freedom, Equality and Justice for All,” was chosen to remind everyone of the initial mission of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), and celebrates the 70th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, which will occur in May 2024. 

The day will include light refreshments and the annual presentation of the Human Rights Awards given to members of the community who provide unique contributions to human and civil rights. 

The 2023 Human Rights Awards recipients are:  

• Chrissy Fauls, for relentlessly fighting for people experiencing sex trafficking, homelessness and food insecurity. 
• The Prince William County Community Foundation (PWCCF) and its founder Dr. Vanessa Gattis, for providing multi-faceted support to the county’s most vulnerable, emphasizing the dire need to combat food insecurity. 
• MATCH UP and its founder Rania Lateef, for improving access to healthcare for new mothers and children within Prince William County. 
• Rabbi Elizabeth Goldstein, Congregation Ner Shalom, for her unyielding commitment to human and civil rights within Prince William County. 
• The Prince William County Police Women’s Mentorship Program and its founders Prince William County Police Lieutenant Astrid Robinson and Detective Michelle McAllister for empowering, encouraging and advancing women’s professional growth and self- improvement for the police department in Prince William County. 

The event, hosted by the Prince William County Human Rights Commission, is free and open to the public. Please direct questions to the Human Rights Office at pwhrc@pwcgov.org or 703-792-4680. 

For more information about the Prince William County Human Rights Commission and the Human Rights Office, visit pwcva.gov/humanrights.