Resources to Help Bring Meaning of the UDHR Close to Home

“Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places, close to home—so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any maps of the world. Yet they are the world of the individual person; the neighborhood he lives in; the school or college he attends; the factory, farm or office where he works. Such are the places where every man, woman and child seeks equal justice, equal opportunity, equal dignity without discrimination. Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere. Without concerned citizen action to uphold them close to home, we shall look in vain for progress in the larger world.” — Eleanor Roosevelt, 1958, in a speech delivered on the 10^th anniversary of the UDHR

As part of our efforts to bring attention to the UHDR and its continuing relevance, we have created, and continue to develop Resources that aim to help people take effective action in their most immediate circles in connection with one or more of the UDHR Articles.  We have Resources for Speaking Up, Resources to Be Well Informed and Before You Act, Do This as tools for exercising UDHR Article 21, Clause 1, “Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his/her country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.”

We also offer guides to using the UDHR to foster constructive conversations to address issues of concern via our page Community Story and Guide to Positive Action.

We now introduce Resources for Navigating Complex Issues and Communications to provide tools and knowledge to enhance skills in communicating with others about complex and controversial issues to forge constructive conversations that can lead to positive social change.