On Monday 10 December 2007, UN agencies across the world began the celebration of a year-long campaign to mark the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In the event took place in Hawassa, the capital city of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR). An estimate number of 2000 participants marched from the Lake Hawassa to the Meskel Square where they were addressed by federal and regional authorities as well as UN officials.

The President of the SNNPR, Mr. Shiferaw Shigute, officiated the event which was attended by 6 Ministers of the Federal Government and the Speaker of the House of Federation. The United Nations was represented by the Resident Coordinator (RC), Mr. Fidèle Sarassoro, and the Regional Representative (RR) of the UN Human Rights (UNHR), Mr. Frej Fenniche. Staff members of UNESCO, IOM, ILO, UNDP and UNHR were also present at the event. The celebration comprised three main components- a march, keynote addresses and a panel discussion on the theme human rights in the regional constitutions.

The Chief Commissioner of the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, Ambassador Kassa Guebre Hiwot, announced the establishment of a national committee for the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights. The statements of the UN Secretary General and the High Commissioner for Human Rights were read by the RC and the RR of UNHR respectively.