Happy Human Rights Day

What Are Human Rights?

Human rights are the fundamental freedoms belonging to everyone, just because they are human. They are applicable regardless of race, color, religion, nationality, or country of origin. Human Rights apply to everyone, no matter where they are from or how they live their lives.

These rights are irrevocable, even though there are instances where governments can restrict them- such as during war, or breaking the law. These rights are freedoms based on social values – fairness, equality, respect, and independence. Some societies have gone beyond the unwritten cultural norms and actually adopted laws formalizing human rights within their society.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

At the end of World War II, the United Nations – Universal Declaration of Human Rights was established. This 1948 document outlined human rights in an effort to identify and protect every human being’s basic rights. After the horrors of the Second World War, a document was written specifically to outline and protect every single human being’s basic rights. It was adopted on December 10th, 1948.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) identified 30 rights and freedoms, including the right to asylum, free speech, education, and the right to be free from torture. These rights have been identified as universal truths that can not be taken from us by people or governments.

After 70 years, these rights continue to form the basis for all international human rights laws. Amnesty International works closely around the world to promote and protect the UDHR and identify abuses where authorities must be held accountable.

10 Human Rights Facts

1. The United Nations declared internet access a basic human right in 2011. This would not seem the case in many 3rd or even 2nd world countries.

2. King Cyrus the Great freed slaves, promoted religious choice and equity to all races. This concept of human rights was established in what is now Iraq over 2,500 years ago.

3. The UDHR identifies the right to leisure and paid holidays.

4. Gay marriage is allowed in twenty-eight countries.

5. There are over 300,000 children working as soldiers around the world

6. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is the most translated document in the world. It is available in 370 languages. Most people guess the most translated would have thought it to be the Holy Bible.

7. The death penalty has been abolished in 106 countries. The practice of death sentences has been abolished in 142 countries.

8. At least 11 countries legally recognize three or more genders.

9. The Netherlands is reportedly the country most concerned with human rights, by U.S. News and World Report.

10. The 2019 ranking of  25 Best Countries supporting human rights listed the United States as number 19th, in the same U.S. News & World Report study.