ปฏิญญาสากลว่าด้วยสิทธิมนุษยชน (Universal Declaration of Human Rights หรือ UDHR) คือ เอกสารที่ทั่วโลกตกลงใช้ร่วมกันเป็นแนวทางไปสู่เสรีภาพและความเท่าเทียม โดยการปกป้องสิทธิมนุษยชนของทุกคนในทุกแห่งหน นับเป็นครั้งแรกในประวัติศาสตร์ที่นานาประเทศเห็นพ้องกันว่าสิทธิและเสรีภาพเป็นสิ่งที่ต้องได้รับการปกป้องเพื่อให้มนุษย์สามารถมีชีวิตอยู่ได้อย่างเสรี เท่าเทียม และมีศักดิ์ศรี

สิทธิมนุษยชนเป็นเรื่องที่อยู่คู่กับสังคมไทยมาอย่างยาวนาน โดยเฉพาะการเลิกทาสเมื่อปี 2448 ซึ่งเป็นพัฒนาการด้านสิทธิมนุษยชนครั้งสำคัญครั้งหนึ่งในประวัติศาสตร์ไทย 

There are about 2.3 billion children in the world, nearly a third of the total human population. Children are defined by law as people who are under the age of majority in their country, usually 18 years old. Whatever their age, all children have human rights, just as adults do. This includes the right to speak out and express opinions, as well as rights to equality, health, education, a clean environment, a safe place to live and protection from harm. Children’s rights are enshrined in the 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), the most ratified human rights treaty in the world. Only one of the UN’s 197 member states hasn’t ratified the Convention — the United States.

Living as a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex (LGBTI) person can be life-threatening in a number of countries across the globe. For those who do not live with a daily immediate risk to their life, discrimination on the basis of one’s sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression and sex characteristics, can have a devastating effect on physical, mental and emotional well-being for those forced to endure it.

Freedom of Expression is protected by Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

When a serious crime occurs, society often clamors for the death penalty against the perpetrators, believing that such events will not recur once the offender is executed. Amnesty International respects these opinions as part of democratic discourse. However, we believe that in reality, crime and violence will persist — only with new perpetrators.

Torture is when somebody in an official capacity inflicts severe mental or physical pain or suffering on somebody else for a specific purpose. Sometimes authorities torture a person to extract a confession for a crime, or to get information from them. Sometimes torture is simply used as a punishment that spreads fear in society.

Most people in the world have had the experience of leaving the place where they grew up. Maybe they will only move as far as the next village or city. But for some people, they will need to leave their country entirely – sometimes for a short time, but sometimes forever.

“Assembly” refers to a temporary and intentional gathering in public or private space for specific purposes, such as advocating change, raising public awareness about important issues, expressing diverse views, or defending group interests — including human rights, socio-economic rights, or other concerns — and may involve celebrations, commemorations, strikes, or protests.

Police have a duty to prevent and detect crime, maintain law and order, and protect human rights – yet all too often, they misuse their powers. From the killing of George Floyd in the United States to the extrajudicial executions of Afro-Brazilians in Brazil’s favelas and the repression of protesters in Bangladesh and Hong Kong, unlawful use of force by police has led to devastating consequences.

You’re not free when you can’t make decisions about what you do with your own body.

Human Rights Defenders are individuals who take action or work to protect and promote human rights — both their own and those of others. They are a vital force in every society because they help make communities stronger and more equal.