Human Rights for All


Human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, whatever our nationality, place of residence, sex, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, language, or any other status. We are all equally entitled to our human rights without discrimination. These rights are all interrelated, interdependent and indivisible.

Universal human rights are often expressed and guaranteed by law, in the form of treaties, customary international law, general principles and other sources of international law. International human rights law lays down obligation of Governments to act to certain ways or to refrain from certain acts, in other to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms of individuals or groups.

It has been over 50 years since the United Nation (UN) Universal declaration of human rights was signed by most governments in the world and yet the abuses continue to grow.

Freedom of speech and Human Rights are taken for granted in the west, but recent years have seen conditions deteriorate around the world. As early as 1997 for example, Human Rights conditions were reported to remain unchanged compared to previous years, or in some countries, actually worsen, around the world.

As the “New World Order” marched on towards the new century it did not look as bright and cheerful for most people as we would have imagined, or hoped, it to be.

In its 2004 report noted the set back for international values of human rights:
Violence by armed groups and increasing violations by governments have combined to produce the most sustained attack on human rights and international humanitarian law in 50 years. This was leasing to a world of growing mistrust, fear and division.

“Amnesty International strongly condemned armed groups responsible for atrocities [representing] a significant new thread to international justice..
But it also frightening that the principles of international law and the tools of multilateral action which could protect us from these attacks are being undermined, marginalized or destroyed by powerful government, ”said Irene Khan [Secretary General of Amnesty International].

“government are losing their moral compass, sacrificing the global values of human rights in a blind pursuit of security. This failure of leadership is a dangerous concession to armed groups”

“while governments have been obsessed with the tread of weapons of mass destruction in iraq, they have allowed the real weapons mass destruction—injustice and impunity, poverty, discrimination and racism, the uncontrolled trade in small arms, violence against women and abuse of children –to go unaddressed,” said Irene Khan.