The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is the world’s premier human rights instrument.

Why Human Rights Education?

How important are human rights? Long before the phrase “human rights’ came into existence, men and women fought and died for basic human freedoms. In fact, this struggle has lasted thousands of years and still continues today.

Ultimately, human rights are the basis of everything people cherish about their way of life. In their absence, lasting happiness is impossible, because there is no personal security, no freedom and no opportunity. Thus, all peoples have long recognized their fundamental importance and have sought to articulate and defend them.

Yet it took a world war and the deaths of millions of people to bring the leading nations together to create a truly universal charter of rights.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is the world’s premier human rights instrument. Its opening paragraph is a powerful affirmation of the principles that lie at the heart of the modern human rights system: “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”.

The grim reality, however, is that in virtually every country of Earth, some portion of the population is a victim of torture, human trafficking, starvation, injustice, discrimination or other human rights abuses. The message of human rights should be clear, but these nations are not listening.

Why? Because no one is making them. And that goes back to the real problem – most people are largely unaware of the Declaration of Human Rights and the 30 rights it contains. Consequently, a wide gap exists between the articulation of the Declaration’s goals and their accomplishment. Millions are not free. Justice is often inequitable. And peace continues to elude many regions of the world. Bridging the enormous gulf between the ideal of universal human rights and the reality of widespread human rights violations is the challenge.

Who will face this challenge and make sure human rights are respected?

The answer to that question begins with education, because only when people know their rights and freedoms can they insist on their use and application for themselves and for others. These principles, once understood, can become a beacon to guide people toward successful coexistence and cooperation.

United for Human Rights (UHR), a non-profit secular organization, provides educational materials to raise public awareness of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  The uniqueness of UHR’s program lies in its educational materials created in collaboration with the Human Rights Department of the Church of Scientology International.  UHR’s materials include audio-video public service announcements and a video entitled “The Story of Human Rights”. The material is used in schools, churches, and various civic groups to educate children and adults so that they understand their human rights, and, armed with that knowledge, work to implement and protect those rights.

As humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard stated, “Human rights must be made a fact, not an idealistic dream.”

 UHR supports the work of all human rights organizations and encourages them to unite toward the implementation of the Universal Declaration.  Surveys have found that most people have only a limited understanding of human rights, thus UHR developed its educational programs and materials to combat this lack of understanding.  UHR also supports governmental and legislative measures that advance the full implementation of the Declaration.

For more info visit: www.humanrights.com