Human
Rights Day stands for
the rights that people
have won over the years
and for the rights we
hope to win for all people,
everywhere -- The right
to be free, to be equal
and to have a chance to
have a good life.
The evolution of the human
rights movement clearly
illustrates humanity's
ongoing struggle toward
creating a more peaceful,
just and sustainable world.
Throughout recorded history,
human societies have usually
been structured with a
powerful minority deciding
the course of the lives
of the majority who have
no power. Through the
ages, people have worked
to change those systems
so that they are more
fair for everyone. As
the world has become more
global and interconnected,
the human rights movement
has been able to spread
throughout the world,
winning rights for people
everywhere. Many victories
have been won, but there
is still a long way to
go, and in many ways there
have been numerous setbacks
as well.
THE UNITED NATIONS
& HUMAN RIGHTS
After the horrors of World
War II, the United Nations
was created to provide
a forum for nations to
work out their problems
in a peaceful way and
to help nations work together
to create a more peaceful,
just and sustainable world
for all. Protecting and
promoting human rights
is a cornerstone in the
goals of the United Nations.
The United Nations Charter
is a treaty and a legally
binding international
document. But, because
the Charter doesn't specifically
define any human rights,
the UN set up a Commission
on Human Rights in 1946
to outline the basic human
rights and freedoms to
which all people should
be entitled. The General
Assembly of the United
Nations adopted the document
that was created - the
Universal Declaration
of Human Rights --
on December 10, 1948.
Since that date, many
nations have cited this
document in their constitutions
and laws, and many human
rights treaties and conventions
have been based on its
principles.
Many people and organizations
work throughout the year
to help protect human
rights - often placing
their own lives in danger.
Human Rights Day is an
important global occasion
to remind us and our communities
about the importance of
protecting human rights
for all.
We
Can Protect Human Rights
HUMAN
RIGHTS LINKS
Human
Rights Day
Universal
Declaration of Human Rights
UN
CyberSchoolBus - Human
Rights In Action
UN's
Dag Hammarskjold Library
Links
UN
- Human Rights
UN
Works for Human Rights
UN
Global Issues - Human
Rights
UNESCO
- Human Rights Education
UN
Days & Years Meditation
Initiative
Amnesty
International
Body
Shop Human Rights Award
Carter
Center
Center
for Human Rights
Global
Exchange Human Rights
Award
Human
Rights First
Human
Rights Internet
Human
Rights Library
Human
Rights Watch
Liberty
Human Rights Award
Martin
Ennals Award for Human
Rights Defenders
Reebok
Human Rights Programs
Rights
International
Robert
F. Kennedy Center for
Human Rights
Thorolf
Rafto Foundation for Human
Rights
Universal
Rights Network
Witness
Women's
Human Rights Net
Worldview
Rights
Human
Rights Quotes
