Human Rights

An Overview

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was ratified in 1948 by the United Nations General Assembly. After two world wars, a horrific genocide, and the Great Depression, the world needed peace in order to survive. The treaties in the declaration were created with the intent of creating justice and peace in the world order and setting nations on a path to progression.

The world has since made many improvements, but there is still work to be done. Fear politics and the rise of populism are threatening global progress on human rights.

Our basic human rights are being infringed upon by our employers and our government at an ever-increasing rate. The LGBT community and women face increasing discrimination at work, at the doctor, and in their communities. Human traffickers are operating throughout our country and indentured servitude is higher today than ever before. Journalists are being silenced.

We are grateful for the charities in this portfolio who work tirelessly to protect our rights. They have a lot of work ahead of them and need our support now more than ever.

The Articles in the Declaration are far-reaching and provide protections for basic individual rights, legal rights, constitutional liberties, economic, social, and cultural rights, and the rights of an individual within their community.

Our charities work towards ensuring the following rights put forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights are protected:

Article 4: No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms
Human Rights First

Article 7: All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination 
National Women’s Law Center

Article 16: (1) Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution. (2) Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses. (3) The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State
Human Rights Watch

Article 19: Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers
Free Press

Article 25: (1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control. (2) Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection
National Women’s Law Center

Charities In This Portfolio

Free Press

We believe that positive social change, racial justice and meaningful engagement in public life require equitable access to technology, diverse and independent ownership of media platforms, and journalism that holds leaders accountable and tells people what’s actually happening in their communities.

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Human Rights First

We know that it is not enough to expose and protest injustice, so we create the political environment and policy solutions necessary to ensure consistent respect for human rights. Whether we are protecting refugees, combating torture, or defending persecuted minorities, we focus not on making a point, but on making a difference.

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Human Rights Watch

Human Rights Watch defends the rights of people worldwide. We scrupulously investigate abuses, expose the facts widely, and pressure those with power to respect rights and secure justice.

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National Women's Law Center

We are passionate champions of national and state policies and laws that help women and girls achieve their potential throughout their lives-at school, at work, at home, in their families, and in their communities. We are committed advocates who take on the toughest challenges, especially for women who face multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination and women who are low-income - and we make change happen.

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