Celebrating the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

All over the world in 1998, people honoured the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights through festivals, workshops, contests, conferences and many other special events. At these gatherings, people expressed both pride at what has been accomplished and concern over what remains to be done.

For many of us, the Universal Declaration has been successful in making the world a better place. The Declaration helped shape the 20th century by inspiring domestic laws and international agreements protecting human rights. Based on the belief that all individuals are born free and equal in dignity and rights, its 30 articles provide a blueprint for freedom, justice and peace in the world.

But many people still live without the most basic rights and freedoms. We continue to witness the worst abuses human beings can inflict on one another, including genocide, torture, slavery, political repression and the exploitation of children.