United Nations- The Declaration of Human Rights

What are human rights?

  Human rights are also there to ensure we develop to our fullest potential. 

Human rights are the rights and freedoms that we all have.

      -  Some human rights are based on our physical    
          needs. The right to life, food and shelter.

      -   Other human rights protect us.

The right to be free from torture, cruel treatment ad abuse.

-  The right to education, work and participation in your community.

Everybody has human rights. It doesn’t matter who you are, where you come from, what language you speak or what religion you belong to. You have a duty to respect the rights of others, just as they have a duty to respect yours. Nobody can take your rights away.

Why do human rights matter to me?

Human rights are important to everyone.

In the UK:

·         One in three children are poor

·         One in four children are physically abused

·         One in seven children do not have a proper home

It is vital that all young people know their rights.

Where do rights come from?

Human rights are based on the values of:

·         Dignity (self- respect)

·         Justice (fairness- affected by the legal system)

·         Respect (valuing others)

·         Equality (fair treatment)

Human rights were officially recognised as values by the world when the United Nations was set up.

What is the United Nations?

·    The United Nations (UN) is an international organisation that was established in 1945- the year the Second World War ended.

·    Its founders hoped it would be able to prevent catastrophes like the Holocaust from happening in the future.

·    Promoting human rights became an aim of the UN, along with maintaining international peace and reducing
 poverty.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is the most famous human rights agreement in the world. It contains 30 human rights.

Who wrote the UDHR?

Representatives from: Australia, China, France, Lebanon, the former Soviet Union, the UK and US.