on
december 10, 1948, the united
nations general
assembly passed the universal
declaration of human rights, a document 30 articles long which enumerates
those rights that are considered to be inherent to every individual. human
rights are those basic standards necessary for a person or group to exist
in dignity. they
are claims for recognition by an individual that take precedence over other
claims, and that other individuals, groups and societies have a duty to recognize.
the five primary aspects of human rights are:
- human
rights are universal: they belong to everyone, regardless of their
race, sexuality, citizenship, gender, nationality, ethnicity, or abilities.
- human
rights are inherent: we are all born with human rights. they belong
to people simply because they are human beings.
- human
rights are inalienable: they cannot be taken away – period.
no person, corporation, organization, or even government can deprive another
person of his or her rights.
- human
rights can be violated: although they are inalienable, they are not
invulnerable. violations can stop people from enjoying their rights, but
they do not stop the rights from existing.
- human
rights are essential: they are essential for freedom, justice, and
peace.
for
more information about human rights and what you can do to help protect them,
please see our issues,
take action, and links
pages.