Reflections on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights from Our Civil Liberties Program Partners

As UUSC celebrates the important milestone of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights' 60th anniversary, the Civil Liberties Program asked its partners what it means to them. Here's what they had to say.

1. In your specific context, what rights guaranteed by the UDHR are being violated?

"The right to life, the right to liberty, and security of person declared by Article 3. Due to the grave violations of rights during the armed internal conflict in Guatemala, we also work on Article 8, which is the right to an effective remedy by competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted by the constitution or by law. In addition, the right to housing in Article 25 and the right to culture in Article 27 are also rights ADIVIMA works on."

— The Association for the Integral Development of the Victims of the Violence of the Verapaces, Maya Achí, ADIVIMA (Guatemala)

"Article 26 of the UDHR states, 'Everyone has the right to education'...This coupled with the clause which specifies 'the equal rights of men and women' is possibly the single biggest challenge which Barakat meets through its programs. For the reality is that female rights among the Afghan population in Afghanistan, and among the Afghan refugee population in Pakistan are violated...in submission to [an] ages-old custom which dictates that a woman's place is in the house, her education an unnecessary burden, while her primary responsibility is to have many children and look after the upkeep of a large family."

— Barakat (Afghanistan, India, Pakistan)

"When I talk about life in a cage, some people will think of birds and some people will think of prison. My story is about both. I have my motherland and my people. But I have not stayed in my country. I feel so sorrowful. I want to stay and do what I want to do in my country. I think that nobody wants to be a refugee. But we can't do anything, because of our country's (Myanmar) situation."

— EarthRights International (Myanmar, formerly Burma)

2. What does the UDHR mean to you, your colleagues, your members?

"The UDHR enshrines the basic principles which guide our projects in Asia. It is our motivation that our work will make a difference in people's lives such that they are more empowered to help themselves and their communities...The UDHR expresses ideals which will not translate into reality in the day-to-day lives of the people unless organizations and individuals make it their mission to make ensure that these ideals are realized."

— Barakat (Afghanistan, India, Pakistan)

"The profound recognition of the inherence of human rights as the foundation of justice and peace iterated in the first sentence of the UDHR is a statement of NRCAT's spiritual mission. Indeed, our missions are much the same — the universal protection of the inviolate dignity of every human being. It is this protection that all of our members, from many different traditions and religions, are called to uphold."

— National Religious Campaign Against Torture (United States)