Human rights are things that we all need to live as people of worth and dignity. Often these rights are about being safe, having enough to eat and a place to stay. They are also about being able to choose how to live our lives and be free from violence, oppression, discrimination and other injustices.
People who fight for human rights know they need to work with others. This is because the issues are complex and time consuming. It is important to find others who share your values and who have different skills and perspectives, especially since groups can help with the practical tasks of group activism (like finding food or organising meetings). Groups can also provide emotional support, particularly when members are facing difficult situations.
For example, many countries have laws that protect people from being treated unfairly because of their race, gender or religion. This is called anti-discrimination law. But these laws can only be effective if people know they exist and understand how to use them.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was a milestone document that was drafted by representatives with different legal and cultural backgrounds from all regions of the world in 1948. It set out, for the first time, fundamental human rights that should be protected everywhere. It is now one of the most translated documents in history.
The UDHR inspired the adoption of more than seventy human rights treaties that are applied on a permanent basis at global and regional levels (all of which contain references to it in their preambles). Many of these legal instruments include investigative bodies that can look into allegations of human rights violations.