The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Preamble
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,
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,
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 co-operation 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 THE 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 effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.
Human Rights Day (December 10)
2020 Theme: Recover Better - Stand Up for Human Rights
This year’s Human Rights Day theme relates to the COVID-19 pandemic and focuses on the need to build back better by ensuring Human Rights are central to recovery efforts. We will reach our common global goals only if we are able to create equal opportunities for all, address the failures exposed and exploited by COVID-19, and apply human rights standards to tackle entrenched, systematic, and intergenerational inequalities, exclusion and discrimination.
10 December is an opportunity to reaffirm the importance of human rights in re-building the world we want, the need for global solidarity as well as our interconnectedness and shared humanity.
Under UN Human Rights’ generic call to action “Stand Up for Human rights”, we aim to engage the general public, our partners and the UN family to bolster transformative action and showcase practical and inspirational examples that can contribute to recovering better and fostering more resilient and just societies.
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Books
The courage of strangers: coming of age with the human rights movement by Call Number: Clemens HQ1413.L33 A3 2002Publication Date: 2002
A long way gone: memoirs of a boy soldier by Call Number: Alcuin DT516.828.B43 A3 2007Publication Date: 2007
Torture : does it make us safer? is it ever OK? : a human rights perspective by Call Number: Alcuin HV8593 .T6623 2005Publication Date: 2005
King Leopold's ghost : a story of greed, terror, and heroism in Colonial Africa by Call Number: Clemens DT655 .H63 1998Publication Date: 1999
Masses in Flight: The Global Crisis of Internal Displacement by Publication Date: 1998
Disposable People: New Slavery in the Global Economy by Call Number: Alcuin & Clemens HT867 .B35 1999Publication Date: 1999-04-15
War crimes : brutality, genocide, terror, and the struggle for justice by Call Number: Alcuin K5301 .N45 1998Publication Date: 1998
A problem from hell: America and the age of genocide by Call Number: Clemens HV6322.7 .P69 2002Publication Date: 2002
We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed with Our Families by Call Number: Clemens DT450.435 .G68 1998Publication Date: 1998
Half the sky : turning oppression into opportunity for women worldwide by Call Number: Clemens HQ1236.5.D44 K75 2009Publication Date: 2009
Campaigning for justice : human rights advocacy in practice by Call Number: Clemens JC571 .B425 2013Publication Date: 2012
Until we are free: my fight for human rights in Iran by Call Number: Clemens KMH110.I23 A3 2016Publication Date: 2016
The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Call Number: Alcuin HV9950 .A437 2012Publication Date: 2012
Books recommendations from https://www.hrw.org/recommended-reading.