UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

On December 10, 1948, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights, the full text of which appears here. Following this historic act the Assembly called upon all member countries to
publicize the text of the Declaration and to cause it to be disseminated, displayed, read and expounded principally in schools
and other educational institutions, without distinction based on the political status of countries or territories.

Preamble

Article 1

Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the

equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human
family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in
the world,

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and
rights. hey are endowed with reason and conscience and
should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights

have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the
conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which
human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and
freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the
highest aspiration of the common people,

Article 2

Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have

recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and
oppression, that human rights should be protected by the
rule of law,
Whereas it is essential to promote the development of
friendly relations between nations,
Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the
Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human
rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and
in the equal rights of men and women and have determined
to promote social progress and better standards of life in
larger freedom,
Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve,
in cooperation with the United Nations, the promotion of
universal respect for and observance of human rights and
fundamental freedoms,
Whereas a common understanding of these rights and
freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realization
of this pledge,
Now, therefore,
he General Assembly,
Proclaims this Universal Declaration of Human Rights as
a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all
nations, to the end that every individual and every organ
of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind,
shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect
for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures,
national and international, to secure their universal
and efective recognition and observance, both among
the peoples of Member States themselves and among the
peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.

Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth

in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such
as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other
opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other
status.
Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of
the political, jurisdictional or international status of the
country or territory to which a person belongs, whether
it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any
other limitation of sovereignty.

Article 3
Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of
person.

Article 4
No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the
slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.

Article 5
No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or
degrading treatment or punishment.

Article 6
Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a
person before the law.

Article 7
All are equal before the law and are entitled without any
discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are
entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in
violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to
such discrimination.

Article 8
Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the
competent national tribunals for acts violating the
fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or
by law.

Article 9
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention
or exile.

Article 10
Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public
hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the
determination of his rights and obligations and of any
criminal charge against him.

Article 11
1. Everyone charged with a penal ofence has the right to be
presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law
in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees
necessary for his defence.
2. No one shall be held guilty of any penal ofence on
account of any act or omission which did not constitute
a penal ofence, under national or international law, at
the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier
penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at
the time the penal ofence was committed.

Article 12
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his
privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon
his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the
protection of the law against such interference or attacks.

Article 13
1. Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and
residence within the borders of each State.
2. Everyone has the right to leave any country, including
his own, and to return to his country.

Article 14
1. Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other
countries asylum from persecution.
2. his right may not be invoked in the case of prosecutions
genuinely arising from nonpolitical crimes or from acts
contrary to the purposes and principles of the United
Nations.

Article 15
1. Everyone has the right to a nationality.
2. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality
nor denied the right to change his nationality.

Article 16
1. Men and women of full age, without any limitation due
to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry
and to found a family. hey are entitled to equal rights
as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.
2. Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full
consent of the intending spouses.
3. he family is the natural and fundamental group unit of
society and is entitled to protection by society and the
State.

Article 17
1. Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as
in association with others.
2. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.

Article 18
Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience
and religion; this right includes freedom to change his
religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community
with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion
or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

Article 19
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression;
this right includes freedom to hold opinions without
interference and to seek, receive and impart information
and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

Article 20
1. Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly
and association.
2. No one may be compelled to belong to an association.

Article 21
1. Everyone has the right to take part in the government
of his country, directly or through freely chosen
representatives.
2. Everyone has the right to equal access to public service
in his country.

3. he will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of

government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and
genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal
sufrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent
free voting procedures.

Article 22
Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social
security and is entitled to realization, through national
efort and international co-operation and in accordance
with the organization and resources of each State, of the
economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his
dignity and the free development of his personality.

Article 23
1. Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of
employment, to just and favourable conditions of work
and to protection against unemployment.
2. Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to
equal pay for equal work.
3. Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable
remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an
existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented,
if necessary, by other means of social protection.
4. Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions
for the protection of his interests.

Article 24
Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including
reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic
holidays with pay.

Article 25
1. Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate
for the health and well-being of himself and of his family,
including food, clothing, housing and medical care and
necessary social services, and the right to security in the
event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood,
old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances
beyond his control.
2. Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care
and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of
wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.

Article 26
1. Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be
free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages.
Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical
and professional education shall be made generally

available and higher education shall be equally accessible

to all on the basis of merit.
2. Education shall be directed to the full development
of the human personality and to the strengthening of
respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It
shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship
among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall
further the activities of the United Nations for the
maintenance of peace.
3. Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education
that shall be given to their children.

Article 27
1. Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural
life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in
scientic advancement and its benets.
2. Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and
material interests resulting from any scientic, literary
or artistic production of which he is the author.

Article 28
Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in
which the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration
can be fully realized.

Article 29
1. Everyone has duties to the community in which alone
the free and full development of his personality is
possible.
2. In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall
be subject only to such limitations as are determined by
law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition
and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and
of meeting the just requirements of morality, public
order and the general welfare in a democratic society.
3. hese rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised
contrary to the purposes and principles of the United
Nations.

Article 30
Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying
for any State, group or person any right to engage in any
activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of
any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

accession: 1. acceptance of a treaty by a state that did not participate in its negotiation

or drating. 2. the act of coming to or attaining (a throne, power, etc.).

Acholi: an ethnic group in northern Uganda, a landlocked country of East Africa.
adoption: a process by which a state agrees to international law; with regard to

treaties, adoption usually refers to the initial diplomatic stage at which a treaty
is accepted; in order to become efective, ater adoption a treaty usually must be
ratiied by the legislature.
African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (adopted 1981; entered into
force 1986): establishes human rights standards and protections for the African

region; notable for addressing community and group rights and duties.
African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights: institutional body

primarily responsible for the promotion and protection of human rights in

Africa.
African National Congress (ANC): the South African political party and black

nationalist organization founded in 1912 as the South African Native National

Congress. It has been the ruling party of post-apartheid South Africa as a social
democratic force.
Akkadian: the extinct language of an empire that was centered in the city of Akkad

and the surrounding region located in central Mesopotamia (about 50 miles

from the center of modern Baghdad, Iraq).
American Convention on Human Rights (adopted in 1969; entered into force
1978): establishes human rights standards and protections for the Americas;

creates the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

G LOSSARY OF TERMS

American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man (1965): nonbinding

declaration of regional human rights standards; it has evolved into an inluential

document, as the Inter-American Court of Human Rights has given it value.
Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action: consensus document emerging

from the 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, reviewing and
reairming womens human rights in all aspects of life; signed by representatives
at the conference and morally but not legally binding.
Bloc: a group of countries or political parties who have formed an alliance. For

example, the Communist Bloc.

charter: a document issued by a sovereign or state, outlining the conditions under

which a corporation, colony, city or other corporate body is organized, and

deining its rights and privileges.
Charter of the Organization of American States (signed 1948; entered into
force 1951): initial charter of the Organization of American States creating the

Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

Charter of the United Nations (signed 1945; entered into force 1945): initial

document of the United Nations which spells out the rules for the UN and
restates some of the basic principles of international law.
Coke, Sir Edward: (15521634) English jurist (one versed in the law, as a judge,

lawyer or scholar), who is considered one of the most eminent jurists in all English
history, and best known as a compiler of the law. As a member of Parliament he
continually clashed with the Crown and routinely challenged royal authority. In
1621, as a leader in a debate he urged that Parliament should not be subservient
to the king. A few years later, Coke helped to write the Petition of Right, the most
explicit statement of the principles of liberty to appear in England up to that
time and which became an integral part of the English constitution.
Commission on Human Rights: a UN commission comprising a group of

representatives of diferent countries that deal with situations involving human

rights and fundamental freedoms anywhere in the world. Special rapporteurs
report to this commission or its subcommissions.
Commission on the Status of Women (CSW): body formed by the Economic

and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations as the principal UN

policymaking body for women; monitors implementation of the Beijing
Platform for Action.

G LOSSARY OF TERMS

Committee against Torture: the treaty-monitoring body established by the

Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment

or Punishment to hear violations of that convention.
Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe: the political arm of the

European Convention on the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental

Freedoms; can refer cases to the European Court of Human Rights.
Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women: the

treaty-monitoring body created by the Convention on the Elimination of All

Forms of Discrimination against Women to monitor state compliance with that
convention.
Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination: the treaty-monitoring

body created by the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial

Discrimination to monitor state compliance with that convention.
complaint: in legal terms, the initial document that begins an action; sets forth a

brief summary of what happened and argues why relief should be granted. In
a human rights case, the complaint (or petition or communication) alleges that
a government or individual or institution that must answer to human rights
standards (such as a surrogate of the government) has violated the human rights
of speciic individuals or groups of individuals.
convention: binding agreement between states; used synonymously with treaty

and covenant. When conventions are adopted by the UN General Assembly,

they create legally binding international obligations for the Member States who
have signed the convention. When a national government ratiies a convention,
the articles of that convention become part of its domestic legal obligations.
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading
Treatment or Punishment (adopted 1984; entered into force 1987):

convention deining and prohibiting torture.

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
(CEDAW) (Womens Convention) (adopted 1979; entered into force 1981):

the irst legally binding international document prohibiting discrimination

against women and obligating governments to take airmative steps to advance
the equality of women.
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
(CERD) (adopted 1965; entered into force 1969): convention deining and

prohibiting racial discrimination.

G LOSSARY OF TERMS

Convention on the Political Rights of Women (approved 1952; entered

into force 1954): early convention reairming womens rights in the political

sphere.
Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide
(approved 1948; entered into force 1951): international convention deining

and prohibiting genocide; irst human rights treaty of the United Nations.
Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and
Members of Their Families (adopted 1990; entered into force 2003):

convention deining the rights of migrant workers and their families.

Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) (adopted 1989; entered into
force 1990): convention setting forth a full spectrum of civil, cultural, economic,

social and political rights of children.

Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees (adopted 1951; entered
into force 1954; revised by 1967 protocol): main convention establishing

the deinition of a refugee and stating the rights of refugees and obligations
of receiving states; deines a refugee as a person who has a well-founded fear of
persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular
social group or political opinion and who is outside the country of origin.
Uprooted people who stay within their country are known as displaced people.
Council of Europe: regional organization that acts as an umbrella organization

for regional cooperation on political, social and economic matters; note that the
council should be distinguished from the European Economic Community, a
wholly economic venture.
covenant: binding agreement between states; used synonymously with convention

and treaty. When covenants are adopted by the UN General Assembly, they
create legally binding international obligations for the Member States who
have signed the covenant. When a national government ratiies a covenant, the
articles of that covenant become part of its domestic legal obligations.
cuneiform: composed of slim triangular or wedge-shaped elements, as the

characters used in writing by the ancient Akkadians. Cuneiform also refers to

the system of writing in which such wedge-shaped impressions were made in
sot clay.
customary international law: law that becomes binding on states although it is not

written, but rather adhered to consistently out of custom; when enough states

G LOSSARY OF TERMS

have begun to behave as if something is the obligatory law, it indeed becomes

law; one of the main sources of international law.
Darfur: the westernmost region of the Sudan.
declaration: document stating agreed-upon standards but which is not legally

binding. UN conferences, like the 1993 UN Conference on Human Rights in

Vienna and the 1995 World Conference for Women in Beijing, usually produce
two sets of declarations: one written by government representatives and one
by nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). he UN General Assembly oten
issues inluential but legally nonbinding declarations.
disappearances: a euphemism for politically motivated murders. Since those

arranging for the disappearances are usually government oicials, perpetrators

are rarely brought to justice.
displaced person: a person who lees his or her homeland due to political

persecution or war, but does not cross state borders; displaced persons can be
used as a phrase to refer to people who may consider themselves to be refugees
but who do not qualify for oicial refugee status under the Convention Relating
to the Status of Refugees.
double jeopardy: the subjecting of a person to a second trial or punishment for the

same ofense for which the person has already been tried or punished.
Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC): United Nations council comprised

of 54 members and concerned primarily with the ield of population, economic

development, human rights and criminal justice; high-ranking body that receives
and discharges human rights reports in a variety of instances.
enter into force: the point of time when a treaty becomes fully binding on the

countries that have ratiied it. his usually happens when a certain number of
states have ratiied the treaty.
ETS: European Treaty Series.
European Commission of Human Rights: body established by the European

Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms

to investigate grievances of human rights and bring charges of violations. he
commission consists of a number of members equal to that of the number of
contracting parties to the convention.

G LOSSARY OF TERMS

European Community Court of Justice: court created in 1952 as part of the

European Coal and Steel Community; court hears economic claims under
the European Economic Community Treaty and related agreements.
European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or
Degrading Treatment or Punishment (adopted 1987; entered into force
1989): regional parallel to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel,

Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment; distinctive feature is the

establishment of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture or
Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental
Freedoms (signed 1950; entered into force 1953): regional document that

guarantees civil and political human rights and establishes machinery for their
supervision and enforcement.
European Council: the principal policy- and rule-making institution of the

European Union.
European Court of Human Rights: court established by the European

Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms

to hear allegations of human rights violations. he court consists of a number
of judges equal to that of the Members of the Council of Europe. Note that this
is distinguishable from the European Community Court of Justice, a body that
hears economic complaints.
European Court of Justice: the supreme tribunal of the European Union.
European Economic Community: established in 1958 to develop a common

European market free of trade barriers and to promote harmonization of laws

and practices.
European Parliament: the principal deliberative and supervisory institution of

the European Union.

European Social Charter (signed 1961; entered into force 1965): regional

document concerned with developing and protecting social and economic

rights; intended to be complementary to the European Convention on Human
Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, but having less force.
European Union: a regional intergovernmental organization that has as its goals

the elimination of internal frontiers and the establishment of an economic and

monetary union.

G LOSSARY OF TERMS

General Assembly: one of the principal organs of the United Nations consisting of

all Member States; issues declarations and adopts conventions on human rights
issues; its actions are governed by the Charter of the United Nations.
general principles of law: principles that appear nearly universally in states

domestic law and, thus, over time become binding on all nations; one of the
main sources of international law.
Geneva Conventions: four treaties formulated in Geneva, Switzerland, that set

standards for international law for humanitarian concerns. hey chiely concern
the treatment of noncombatants and prisoners of war. he adoption of the irst
Convention followed the foundation of the International Committee of the Red
Cross in 1863 and they have now been ratiied by 194 countries.
genocide: any of the following acts committed with the intent to destroy, in

whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group, as such: (a) killing
members of the group; (b) causing serious bodily or mental harm to members
of the group; (c) deliberately inlicting the conditions of life calculated to bring
about the physical destruction of the group; (d) imposing measures intended to
prevent births within the group; (e) forcibly transferring children of the group
to another group. See Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the
Crime of Genocide.
habeas corpus: a writ (written command in the name of a court) requiring that

a person be brought before a judge or into court, especially to investigate the

lawfulness of their detention.
Helsinki Accords: declaration of principles by the Conference on Security and

Co-operation in Europe which seeks peace and human rights in Europe; irst
Helsinki document was called the Final Act of the Helsinki Conference (1975).
High Commissioner for Human Rights: United Nations oice charged with the

promotion and protection of human rights worldwide.

humanitarian law: the international rules that establish the rights of combatants
and noncombatants in war. See Geneva Conventions.
Human Rights Committee: the treaty-monitoring body created by the International

Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to investigate and hear claims pertaining
to civil and political rights under that Covenant; one of six bodies charged with
monitoring compliance of Member States with UN human rights conventions.
human trafficking: the recruitment, transportation, harboring or receipt of

people for the purposes of slavery, forced labor (including bonded labor or debt

G LOSSARY OF TERMS

bondage) and servitude. he total annual revenue for traicking in persons is

estimated to be between $5 billion and $9 billion.
ICCPR: see International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
inalienable: refers to rights that belong to every person and cannot be taken from

a person under any circumstances.

infamous crime: a crime that is punishable by serious penalty, such as death, long

imprisonment or loss of civil rights.

Inter-American Commission on Human Rights: an organ of the Organization of

American States with power to conduct investigations into alleged human rights
violations and to recommend measures for the protection of human rights.
Inter-American Convention on Human Rights (signed 1969; entered into
force 1978): convention providing human rights protections in the Americas

and establishing the American Court of Human Rights.

Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication
of Violence against Women (entered into force 1995): regional convention

that provides a new mechanism for women in the Americas who sufer from
various forms of violence.
Inter-American Convention to Prevent and Punish Torture (adopted 1985;
entered into force 1987): regional corollary to the Convention against Torture

and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

Inter-American Court of Human Rights: a seven-member judicial body which

hears cases brought against member organizations concerning human rights

abuses; an organ of the Organization of American States.
International Bill of Human Rights: the combination of the Universal Declaration

of Human Rights (UDHR), the International Covenant on Civil and Political

Rights (ICCPR) and its optional protocol, and the International Covenant on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR).
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) (adopted 1966;
entered into force 1976): convention that declares that all people have a broad

range of civil and political rights. One of three components of the International
Bill of Human Rights.
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)
(adopted 1966; entered into force 1976): convention that declares that all

G LOSSARY OF TERMS

people have a broad range of economic, social and cultural rights. One of three
components of the International Bill of Human Rights.
international law: a set of rules generally regarded and accepted as binding in

relations between states and nations. Also called law of nations.

jurisdiction: the authority of courts or court-like bodies to hear and decide claims;

can refer to the courts ability to hear particular subjects and/or to review cases
brought by certain types of claimants; jurisdiction can also refer to a geographic
area of authority.
Mali: a landlocked state in central western Africa bounded by Algeria, Niger,

Burkina Faso, Senegal and Mauritania.

marginalized: placed in a position of insigniicant importance, inluence or

power.
Member States: countries that are members of the United Nations.
monitoring and reporting procedure: procedures not generally resulting in

legally enforceable remedies, resembling audits of government behavior which

result in nonbinding recommendations. In some cases, the reporting resembles
a self-inspection; governments report on their own compliance with human
rights obligations or a monitoring body initiates the report on government
behavior.
Myanmar: a country located in the western portion of mainland Southeast Asia,

bounded by China, Laos, hailand, Bangladesh and India. Also called Burma.
natural law: a theory that posits the existence of a law whose content is set by

nature and that therefore is valid everywhere; in philosophy, a system of right

or justice held to be common to all humans and derived from nature rather than
from the rules of society or positive law.
nonbinding: a document, like a declaration, that carries no formal legal obligations.

It may, however, carry moral obligations or attain the force of law.

nongovernmental organizations (NGOs): organizations formed by people

outside of government, NGOs monitor the proceedings of human rights bodies

such as the Commission on Human Rights and are the watchdogs of the
human rights that fall within their mandate. Some are large and international
(Save the Children, Amnesty International, the Girl Scouts); others may be small
and local (an organization to advocate for people with disabilities in a particular
city; a coalition to promote womens rights in one refugee camp). NGOs play a

G LOSSARY OF TERMS

major role in inluencing UN policy, and many of them have oicial consultative
status at the UN.
OAS: see Organization of American States.
OAU: see Organization of African Unity.
optional protocol: addendum to an international agreement to which the States

parties must agree separately; oten places additional obligations to the parties,
such as an agreement to submit to the jurisdiction of an international court.
Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights (adopted 1966; entered into force 1976): addendum attached to the

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. By signing this addendum,

states agree to allow the Human Rights Committee to consider individual
complaints, that is, complaints from individuals claiming to be denied any of
the rights in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Organization of African Unity (OAU): organization of independent African states

that work jointly to improve peace and the quality of life for the people of Africa.
he OAU Charter, the guiding document of the group, was adopted in 1963.
Organization of American States (OAS): organization of independent American

states created to strengthen peace and security in the region and to promote
regional cooperation on economic, social and cultural matters.
Organization on Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) (formerly the
CSCE): European attempt to settle security issues peacefully through a series

of creative collaborative ventures; formerly the Conference on Security and

Co-operation in Europe; declared the Helsinki Accords.
peoples rights: used synonymously with solidarity rights and collective

rights; refers to the rights of groups, not just individuals, such as the rights to
development, peace and a healthy environment.
petition: see complaint.
procedural requirements: technical requirements that must be met to bring a

claim, as distinguished from substantive requirements.

procedure: the various ways in which human rights claims can be made. See
monitoring and reporting procedure.

G LOSSARY OF TERMS

protocol: supplemental addition to a treaty; when States parties can still agree to

the main treaty without signing on to the protocol, this is known as an optional
protocol.
ratification: process by which the legislative body of a state conirms a governments

action in signing a treaty; formal procedure by which a state becomes bound to

a treaty ater acceptance.
reporting procedure: see monitoring and reporting procedure.
Security Council: organ of the United Nations comprised of ive permanent

members and ten nonpermanent members elected by the General Assembly

that attempts to bring about peaceful settlements of disputes.
signature: an act by which a State provides a preliminary endorsement of a treaty.

Signing does not create a binding legal obligation but does demonstrate the
States intent to examine the treaty domestically and consider ratifying it. While
signing does not commit a State to ratiication, it does oblige the State to refrain
from acts that would defeat or undermine the treatys objective and purpose.
special rapporteur: a person given a speciic mission to investigate, gather

information and report on a certain human rights subject or the situation in a

particular part of the world. he Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or
Belief reports annually to the UN Commission on Human Rights on the status
of this human right worldwide.
treaty: binding agreement between states; used synonymously with covenant and

convention. When treaties are adopted by the UN General Assembly, they create
legally binding international obligations for the Member States who have signed
the treaty. When a national government ratiies a treaty, the articles of that treaty
become part of its domestic legal obligations.
United Nations Charter: initial document of the UN setting forth its goals,

functions and responsibilities; adopted in San Francisco in 1945.

United Nations General Assembly: the only United Nations organ in which

all Member States are represented. he General Assembly serves as a forum

for Member States to launch initiatives on international questions of peace,
economic progress and human rights.
United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees (UNHCR): the specialized

agency of the United Nations that deals with refugee issues and related
humanitarian concerns.

G LOSSARY OF TERMS

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR): adopted by the UN General

Assembly on December 10, 1948. he primary UN document establishing

human rights standards and norms, all Member States have agreed to uphold
the UDHR. Although the Declaration was intended to be nonbinding, through
time its various provisions have become so respected by states that it can now
be said to be customary international law.
Villiers, George: (15921628) English statesman, irst Duke of Buckingham

and favorite of James I, king of England. Buckingham had a great interest in

diplomacy and warfare and was allowed by James to virtually rule the country,
which he continued to do with the accession of Charles (King Charles I) in
1625. Parliament distrusted and resented Buckingham, inding him arrogant
and believing he had needlessly involved England in wars against France
(16261629) and Spain (16241630).

CHAMPIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS

CSAR CHVEZ (19271993)

Mexican-American farm worker, labor leader and
civil rights activist Csar Chvez brought about better
conditions for agricultural workers by his actions. Born on
his familys farm near Yuma, Arizona, Chvez witnessed
the harsh conditions farm laborers endured. Workers were
routinely exploited by their employers, oten unpaid, living
in shacks in exchange for their labor, and with no medical
or other basic facilities. Without a united voice, they had no means to improve their
position. Chvez changed that when he dedicated his life to winning recognition of
the rights of agricultural workers, inspiring and organizing them into the National
Farm Workers Association which later became the United Farm Workers. hrough
marches, strikes and boycotts, Chvez forced employers to pay adequate wages
and provide other beneits and was responsible for legislation enacting the irst
Bill of Rights for agricultural workers. For his commitment to social justice and his
lifelong dedication to bettering the lives of his fellow men and women, Chvez was
posthumously recognized with the highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal
of Freedom.
Once social change begins, it cannot be reversed. You cannot uneducate the person
who has learned to read. You cannot humiliate the person who feels pride. You cannot
oppress the people who are not afraid anymore.
Csar Chvez

CHAMPIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS

DAW AUNG SAN SUU KYI (BORN 1945)

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has been a major voice for human
rights and freedom in Burma (Myanmar), a country
dominated by a military government since 1962. Born in
Rangoon and studying at Oxford University, she became
politically active in 1988 when the Burmese junta violently
suppressed a mass uprising, killing thousands of civilians.
Suu Kyi wrote an open letter to the government asking for
the formation of an independent committee to hold democratic elections. Defying
a government ban on political gatherings of more than four persons, Suu Kyi spoke
to large audiences throughout Burma as Secretary-General of the newly formed
National League for Democracy (NLD). In 1989 she was placed under house
arrest. Despite her detention, the NLD won the election with 82 percent of the
parliamentary seats, but the military dictatorship refused to recognize the results.
Suu Kyi has remained in prison almost continuously since that time, rejecting the
governments ofer of freedom as it would require her to leave Burma. In 2003,
she was moved from prison and again placed under house arrest, which has been
repeatedly and illegally extended by the junta. She remains a living expression of
her peoples determination to gain political and economic freedoms. Awarded the
Nobel Peace Prize in 1991, Suu Kyi has called on citizens around the world to use
your liberty to promote ours.
I think by now I have made it fairly clear that I am not very happy with the word
hope. I dont believe in people just hoping. We work for what we want.
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi

CHAMPIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS

ELEANOR ROOSEVELT (18841962)

As chair and most inluential member of the United Nations
Human Rights Commission, Eleanor Roosevelt was the
driving force in creating the 1948 charter of liberties that
will always be her legacy: he Universal Declaration of
Human Rights.
Born in New York City, Eleanor married rising politician
Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1905 and became fully
immersed in public service. By the time they arrived in the White House in 1933
as President and First Lady, she was already deeply involved in human rights and
social justice issues. Continuing her work on behalf of all people, she advocated
equal rights for African-Americans, Depression-era workers and women, bringing
inspiration and attention to their causes. Courageously outspoken, she publicly
supported Marian Anderson when in 1939 the black singer was denied the use
of Washingtons Constitution Hall because of her race. Roosevelt saw to it that
Anderson performed instead on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, creating an
enduring and inspiring image of personal courage and human rights.
In 1946, Roosevelt was appointed as a delegate to the United Nations by President
Harry Truman who had succeeded to the White House ater the death of Franklin
Roosevelt in 1945. As head of the Human Rights Commission, she was instrumental
in formulating the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which she submitted to
the United Nations General Assembly with these words:
We stand today at the threshold of a great event both in the life of the United Nations
and in the life of mankind. his declaration may well become the international
Magna Carta for all men everywhere.
Called First Lady of the World by President Truman for her lifelong humanitarian
achievements, Roosevelt worked to the end of her life to gain acceptance and
implementation of the rights set forth in the Declaration. he legacy of her words and
her work appears in the constitutions of scores of nations and in an evolving body of
international law that now protects the rights of men and women across the world.
Do what you feel in your heart to be rightfor youll be criticized anyway. Youll be
damned if you do, and damned if you dont.
Eleanor Roosevelt

CHAMPIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS

MAHATMA GANDHI (18691948)

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi is widely recognized
as one of the twentieth centurys greatest political and
spiritual leaders. Honored in India as the father of the
nation, he pioneered and practiced the principle of
Satyagraharesistance to tyranny through mass nonviolent
civil disobedience. While leading nationwide campaigns to
ease poverty, expand womens rights, build religious and
ethnic harmony and eliminate the injustices of the caste system, Gandhi supremely
applied the principles of nonviolent civil disobedience to free India from foreign
domination. He was oten imprisoned for his actions, sometimes for years, but he
accomplished his aim in 1947 when India gained its independence from Britain.
Because of his stature, he is referred to as Mahatma, which means great soul. World
civil rights leaders from Martin Luther King, Jr., to Nelson Mandela have credited
Gandhi as a source of inspiration in their struggles to achieve equal rights for
their people.
When I despair, I remember that all through history the ways of truth and love have
always won. here have been tyrants, and murderers, and for a time they can seem
invincible, but in the end they always fall. hink of italways.
Mahatma Gandhi

CHAMPIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. (19291968)

Martin Luther King, Jr., was one of the twentieth centurys
best-known advocates for nonviolent social change. Born
in Atlanta, Georgia, Kings exceptional oratorical skills and
personal courage irst attracted national attention in 1955
when he and other civil rights activists were arrested ater
leading a boycott of a Montgomery, Alabama, transportation
company for requiring that nonwhites surrender their
seats to whites and stand or sit at the back of the bus. Over the next decade, King
wrote, spoke and organized nonviolent protests and mass demonstrations to draw
attention to racial discrimination and to demand civil rights legislation to protect
the rights of African-Americans. In 1963 in Birmingham, Alabama, King guided
peaceful mass demonstrations that the white police force countered with police dogs
and ire hoses, creating a controversy that generated newspaper headlines around
the world. Subsequent mass demonstrations in many communities culminated in
a march that attracted more than 250,000 protestors to Washington, DC, where
King delivered his famous I have a dream speech in which he envisioned a world
in which people were no longer divided by race. So powerful was the movement
King inspired, Congress enacted the Civil Rights Act in 1964, the same year he
was honored with the Nobel Peace Prize. Posthumously awarded the Presidential
Medal of Freedom, King is an icon of the civil rights movement. His life and work
symbolize the quest for equality and nondiscrimination that lies at the heart of the
Americanand humandream.
he ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and
convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

CHAMPIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS

MUHAMMAD YUNUS (BORN 1940)

Economist and Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has
become internationally renowned for his revolutionary
system of micro-creditthe extension of small loans to
entrepreneurs too poor to qualify for traditional bank
loansthat has helped millions to escape poverty.
Born in 1940 in the seaport city of Chittagong, Bangladesh,
Yunus life is motivated by his vision of a world without
poverty. It began in 1976 when he saw village basket weavers living in abject poverty
despite their skill. Considered poor credit risks, the artisans were forced to borrow
money at high interest rates to purchase bamboo and made no proit ater repaying
moneylenders. From his own pocket, Yunus made a loan of $27 to a group of women
who repaid the funds and, for the irst time, made a small proit. Yunus realized that
by means of tiny loans and inancial services, he could help the poor free themselves
from poverty.
In 1983 he established the Grameen Bank (Village Bank), founded on his conviction
that credit is a fundamental human right. In a quarter of a century, the bank has
stood as the lagship of a 100-country network of similar institutions enabling
millions to escape poverty through individual economic empowerment. Professor
Yunus is a member of the board of the United Nations Foundation and the recipient
of numerous international awards for his humanitarian endeavors.
Here we were talking about economic development, about investing billions of dollars in
various programs, and I could see it wasnt billions of dollars people needed right away.
Muhammad Yunus

CHAMPIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS

NELSON MANDELA (BORN 1918)

Nelson Mandela, one of the most recognizable human rights
symbols of the age, is a man whose dedication to the liberties
of his people inspires human rights advocates throughout
the world. Born in Transkei, South Africa, son of a tribal
chief, Mandela received a university degree and law degree.
In 1944, he joined the African National Congress (ANC)
and actively worked to abolish the apartheid policies of the
ruling National Party. On trial for his actions, Mandela declared, I have fought
against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have
cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together
in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and
to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.
Sentenced to life imprisonment, Mandela became a powerful symbol of resistance
for the rising anti-apartheid movement, repeatedly refusing to compromise his
political position to obtain his freedom. Finally released in February 1990, he
intensiied the battle against oppression to attain the goals he and others had set
almost four decades earlier. In May 1994, Mandela was inaugurated as South Africas
irst black president, a position he held until 1999. He presided over the transition
from minority rule and apartheid, winning international respect for his advocacy
of national and international reconciliation. A worldwide celebration of his life and
rededication to his goals of freedom and equality took place on his 90th birthday
in 2008.
If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to
him in his language, that goes to his heart.
Nelson Mandela

CHAMPIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS

OSCAR ARIAS SNCHEZ (BORN 1940)

Oscar Arias Snchez won the respect of leaders and
humanitarians everywhere for bringing peace to Central
America. Born in 1940, he studied in the United States and
then earned a law degree in Costa Rica.
Elected president of Costa Rica in 1986, Arias Snchez
immediately put the world on notice that he intended to
restore peace in Central America by disentangling the
region from the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union. In a
series of meetings with the presidents of Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and
Nicaragua, Arias Snchez pressed to resolve the turmoil and end outside inluence
in Central America. He eventually gained approval of his peace plan, which called
for each country to limit the size of their armies, assure freedom of the press, and
hold free and open elections. he plan was successful and, with the signing of the
accords, ighting in the region came to an end.
In 1987, President Oscar Arias Snchez received the Nobel Peace Prize for bringing
peace to the region and used the monetary award to establish the Arias Foundation
for Peace and Human Progress. During his presidency, he frequently ventured into
the public without entourage or fanfare to listen to the concerns of the citizenry.
Ater the conclusion of his irst term in oice, he continued to be a man of the
people, promoting human security and development on many fronts. In 2006, he
was again elected president of Costa Rica and today continues to champion peace
and human rights.
he more freedom we enjoy, the greater the responsibility we bear, toward others as
well as ourselves.
Oscar Arias Snchez

HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS

ARTICLE 3 THE RIGHT TO LIFE

Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.
An estimated 6,500 people were killed in 2007 in armed conlict in Afghanistan,
nearly half noncombatant civilian deaths at the hands of insurgents. Hundreds
of civilians were also killed in suicide attacks by armed groups.
In Brazil in 2007, according to oicial igures, police killed at least 1,260
individualsthe highest total to date. All incidents were oicially labeled acts
of resistance and received little or no investigation.
In Uganda, 1,500 people die each week in the internally displaced person camps.
According to the World Health Organization, 500,000 have died in these camps.
Vietnamese authorities forced at least 75,000 drug addicts and prostitutes into 71
overpopulated rehab camps, labeling the detainees at high risk of contracting
HIV/AIDS but providing no treatment.

HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS

ARTICLE 4 NO SLAVERY
No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be
prohibited in all their forms.
In northern Uganda, the LRA (Lords Resistance Army) guerillas have kidnapped
20,000 children over the past 20 years and forced them into service as soldiers or
sexual slaves for the army.
In Guinea-Bissau, children as young as 5 are traicked out of the country to
work in cotton ields in southern Senegal or as beggars in the capital city. In
Ghana, children 514 are tricked into dangerous jobs in the ishing industry
with false promises of education and jobs.
In Asia, Japan is the major destination country for traicked women, especially
from the Philippines and hailand. Also, UNICEF estimates 60,000 child
prostitutes in the Philippines. he US State Department estimates 600,000 to
820,000 men, women and children are traicked across international borders
each year, likely a low estimate, half of whom are minors and including
record numbers of women and girls leeing from Iraq. In nearly all countries,
including Canada, the US and the UK, deportation or harassment are the usual
governmental responses, with no assistance services for the victims.
In the Dominican Republic, the operations of a traicking ring led to the deaths
by asphyxiation of 25 Haitian migrant workers. In 2007, two civilians and two
military oicers received lenient prison sentences for their part in the operation.
In Somalia in 2007, more than 1,400 displaced Somalis and Ethiopian nationals
died at sea in traicking operations.

HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS

ARTICLE 5 NO TORTURE
No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or
punishment.
In 2008, US authorities continued to hold 270 prisoners in Guantnamo Bay,
Cuba, without charge or trial, with clear evidence of torture. Senior oicials
refused to denounce the practice of water-boarding, torture that simulates
drowning. Former President George W. Bush authorized the CIA to continue
secret detention and interrogation, despite its violation of international law.
In Iraq, US military personnel took over the Abu Ghraib prison (where Saddam
Husseins government had tortured and executed dissidents) and tortured Iraqi
detainees.
In Darfur, violence, atrocities and abduction are rampant and outside aid all but
cut of. Women in particular are the victims of unrestrained assault, with more
than 200 rapes in the vicinity of a displaced persons camp in one 5-week period,
with no efort by authorities to punish the perpetrators.
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, acts of torture and ill treatment
are routinely committed by government security services and armed groups,
including sustained beatings, stabbings and rapes of those in custody. Detainees
are held incommunicado, sometimes in secret detention sites. In 2007, the
Republican Guard (presidential guard) and Special Services police division in
Kinshasa arbitrarily detained and tortured numerous individuals labeled as
critics of the government.

HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS

ARTICLE 13 FREEDOM TO MOVE

1. Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders
of each State.
2. Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to
his country.
In Myanmar, thousands of citizens were detained, including 700 prisoners of
conscience, most notably Nobel laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Imprisoned
or under house arrest for 12 of the last 18 years in retaliation for her political
activities, she has refused government ofers of release that would require her to
leave the country.
In Algeria, refugees and asylum-seekers are frequent victims of detention,
expulsion or ill treatment. Twenty-eight individuals from sub-Saharan African
countries with oicial refugee status from the United Nations High Commissioner
for Refugees (UNHCR) were deported to Mali ater being falsely tried, without
legal counsel or interpreters, on charges of entering Algeria illegally. hey were
dumped near a desert town where a Malian armed group was active, without
food, water or medical aid.
In Kenya, authorities violated international refugee law when they closed the
border to thousands of people leeing armed conlict in Somalia. Asylum-seekers
were illegally detained at the Kenyan border without charge or trial and forcibly
returned to Somalia.
In northern Uganda, 1.6 million citizens remained in displacement camps in
2007. In the Acholi subregion, the area most afected by armed conlict, 63
percent of the 1.1 million people displaced in 2005 were still living in camps
two years later, with only 7,000 returned permanently to their places of origin.

HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS

ARTICLE 18 FREEDOM OF THOUGHT

Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes
freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with
others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice,
worship and observance.
In Myanmar, the military junta crushed peaceful demonstrations led by monks,
raided and closed monasteries, coniscated and destroyed property, shot, beat
and detained protesters, and harassed or held hostage the friends and family
members of the protesters.
In China, Falun Gong practitioners were singled out for torture and other abuses
while in detention. Christians were persecuted for practicing their religion
outside state-sanctioned channels.
In Kazakhstan, local authorities in a community near Almaty authorized the
destruction of 12 homes, all belonging to Hare Krishna members, falsely charging
that the land on which the homes were built had been illegally acquired. Only
homes belonging to members of the Hare Krishna community were destroyed.

HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS

ARTICLE 19 FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom
to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and
ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
In Sudan, human rights defenders were arrested and tortured by national
intelligence and security forces.
In Ethiopia, two prominent human rights defenders were convicted on false
charges and sentenced to nearly three years in prison.
In Somalia, a prominent human rights defender was murdered.
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the government attacks and threatens
human rights defenders and restricts freedom of expression and association.
Provisions of the 2004 Press Act were used by the government to censor
newspapers and limit freedom of expression.
Russia repressed political dissent, pressured or shut down independent media
and harassed nongovernmental organizations. Peaceful public demonstrations
were dispersed with force, and lawyers, human rights defenders and journalists
were threatened and attacked. Twenty murders of journalists critical of
government policy remain unsolved.
In Iraq, at least 37 Iraqi employees of media networks were killed in 2008 and
235 since the invasion of March 2003, making Iraq the worlds most dangerous
place for journalists.

HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS

ARTICLE 21 RIGHT TO DEMOCRACY

1. Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or
through freely chosen representatives.
2. Everyone has the right to equal access to public service in his country.
3. he will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will
shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal
and equal sufrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting
procedures.
In Zimbabwe, hundreds of human rights defenders and members of the main
opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), were arrested
for participating in peaceful gatherings.
In Pakistan, President Musharraf ordered the arrest of thousands of lawyers,
journalists, human rights defenders and political activists for demanding
democracy, the rule of law and an independent judiciary.
In Cuba, at the end of 2007, 62 prisoners of conscience continued in prison for
their nonviolent political views or activities.

HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS

AND INTERGOVERNMENT AND GOVERNMENT

BODIES CONCERNED WITH HUMAN RIGHTS

any organizations around the world dedicate their eforts to the protection
of human rights and bringing an end to human rights abuses. Major human
rights organizations document violations and call for remedial action, both at a
governmental and grass-roots level. Public support and condemnation of abuses is
important to success, as human rights organizations are most efective when their
calls for reform are backed by strong public advocacy. United for Human Rights
encourages everyone to visit the following websites and to become active in one or
more of these organizations programs.
he descriptions of the organizations below are taken from their own sites.

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
Amnesty International is a worldwide movement of people who campaign for
internationally recognized human rights for all. With more than 2.2 million
members and subscribers in more than 150 countries, they conduct research and
generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights and to demand
justice for those whose rights have been violated. amnesty.org

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT

OF COLORED PEOPLE (NAACP)
he mission of the NAACP is to ensure the political, educational, social and economic
equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination.
naacp.org

HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH

Human Rights Watch is dedicated to protecting the human rights of people around
the world. hey investigate and expose human rights violations, hold abusers

HUMAN RIGHTS O RGANIZATIONS

accountable, and challenge governments and those who hold power to end abusive
practices and respect international human rights law. hrw.org

HUMAN RIGHTS WITHOUT FRONTIERS (HRWF)

HRWF focuses on monitoring, research and analysis in the ield of human rights, as
well as promotion of democracy and the rule of law on the national and international
level. hrwf.net

UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC

AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION (UNESCO)
UNesCos goal is to build peace in the minds of men. Its work in the ield of human
rights aims to strengthen awareness and act as a catalyst for regional, national and
international action in human rights. unesco.org

CHILDRENS DEFENSE FUND (CDF)

he Childrens Defense Fund is a child advocacy organization that works to ensure
a level playing ield for all children. CDF champions policies and programs that lit
children out of poverty, protect them from abuse and neglect, and ensure their right
to equal care and education. childrensdefense.org

UNICEFUNITED NATIONS CHILDRENS FUND

UNICeF is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the
protection of childrens rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their
opportunities to reach their full potential. UNICeF mobilizes political will and
material resources to help countries, particularly developing countries, ensure a
irst call for children. unicef.org

SIMON WIESENTHAL CENTER

he simon Wiesenthal Center is an international Jewish human rights organization
dedicated to repairing the world one step at a time. he Center generates changes
by confronting anti-semitism, hate and terrorism, promoting human rights and
dignity, standing with Israel, defending the safety of Jews worldwide, and teaching
the lessons of the Holocaust for future generations. wiesenthal.com

HUMAN RIGHTS O RGANIZATIONS

UNITED NATIONS OFFICE OF THE HIGH

COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
he United Nations oice of the High Commissioner for Human Rights mission is
to work for the protection of human rights for all people; to help empower people
to realize their rights; and to assist those responsible for upholding such rights in
ensuring that they are implemented. ohchr.org

OFFICE OF THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH

COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES
he oice of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is mandated
to lead and coordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee
problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being
of refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum
and ind safe refuge in another state, with the option to return home voluntarily,
integrate locally or to resettle in a third country. unhcr.org/cgi

US STATE DEPARTMENT BUREAU OF DEMOCRACY,

HUMAN RIGHTS AND LABOR
he state Departments Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor strives to
learn the truth and state the facts in all of its human rights investigations, annual
reports on country conditions, etc. he bureau takes action to stop ongoing abuses and
maintains partnerships with organizations committed to human rights. state.gov

OFFICE FOR DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS AND HUMAN

RIGHTS OF THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY
AND CO-OPERATION IN EUROPE (OSCE)
he oice for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the osCe, comprised of
56 participating states from europe, Central Asia and North America, is engaged in
human rights activities focusing on freedom of movement and religion, preventing
torture and traicking in persons. osce.org/odihr

COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, COUNCIL OF EUROPE

he Commissioner for Human Rights is an independent institution within the
Council of europe, mandated to promote the awareness of and respect for human

HUMAN RIGHTS O RGANIZATIONS

rights in 47 Council of europe Member states. he Commissioners work thus

focuses on encouraging reform measures to achieve tangible improvement in
the area of human rights promotion and protection. As a nonjudicial institution,
the Commissioners office cannot act upon individual complaints, but the
Commissioner can draw conclusions and take wider initiatives on the basis of
reliable information regarding human rights violations sufered by individuals.
coe.int/t/commissioner

EUROPEAN OMBUDSMAN
he european ombudsman investigates complaints about maladministration in
the institutions and bodies of the european Union. he ombudsman is completely
independent and impartial. ombudsman.europa.eu/home/en/default.htm

EUROPEAN COMMISSION EMPLOYMENT,

SOCIAL AFFAIRS AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
he european Commissions Directorate-General for employment, social Afairs
and equal opportunities works toward the creation of more and better jobs, an
inclusive society and equal opportunities for all. ec.europa.eu/social

AFRICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN

AND PEOPLES RIGHTS
he Commission is oicially charged with three major functions: the protection of
human and peoples rights, the promotion of human and peoples rights and the
interpretation of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights. achpr.org

ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

he Asian Human Rights Commission works to achieve the following priorities,
among others: to protect and promote human rights by monitoring, investigating,
advocating and taking solidarity actions. ahrchk.net

HUMAN RIGHTS REPORTS

CURRENT REPORTS ON HUMAN
RIGHTS AROUND THE WORLD

uman rights organizations publish both annual reports and special reports on
speciic pressing human rights situations.

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL REPORT 2008

World leaders owe an apology for failing to deliver on the promise of justice and
equality in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), adopted 60 years
ago. In the past six decades, many governments have shown more interest in the
abuse of power or in the pursuit of political self-interest, than in respecting the
rights of those they lead. report2008.amnesty.org/eng/introduction

HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH WORLD REPORT 2008

Rarely has democracy been so acclaimed yet so breached, so promoted yet so
disrespected, so important yet so disappointing. Today, democracy has become the
sine qua non of legitimacy. Few governments want to be seen as undemocratic.
Yet the credentials of the claimants have not kept pace with democracys growing
popularity. hrw.org/en/reports/2008/01/30/world-report-2008

UN OFFICE OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER

FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
Recent publications include a handbook for nongovernmental organizations and
a plan of action for a world program for human rights education. ohchr.org/EN/
PublicationsResources/Pages/Publications.aspx

HUMAN RIGHTS REPORTS

US STATE DEPARTMENT
he State Departments Annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices survey
the situation of human rights around the world, except in the United States.
state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt

EU ANNUAL REPORT ON HUMAN RIGHTS

A global human rights report produced by the European Commission. In combating
terrorism and extremism, the promotion of human rights remains highly relevant.
ec.europa.eu/external_relations/human_rights/doc

ACTIVITY REPORT OF THE AFRICAN COMMISSION

ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES RIGHTS
A report on the activities of the commission and human rights situations in African
countries. achpr.org/english/activity_reports/activity15_en.pdf

INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY REPORT

his report is issued by the Asian Commission on Human Rights. he report
provides the state of human rights in eleven Asian nations.
material.ahrchk.net/hrreport/2007

Students are encouraged to search for other human rights reports published by
other governments and civil organizations.