Protect Human Rights

The promotion and protection of human rights is key purpose and guiding principle of the United Nations. In 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights lay down the principles that brought human rights into the realm of international law. Since then, the scope and role of UN action in promoting and protecting human rights continues to expand. The central mandate of the Organization is to ensure full respect for the human dignity of the “peoples of the United Nations”, in whose name the Charter of the United Nations was written. 

Through its international machinery, the UN is working on many fronts as a: global conscience, lawmaker, monitor, defender, forum of appeal, fact-finder, and a discreet diplomat. UN organs, offices and bodies, such as the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Security Council, Human Rights Council, Secretary-General and UN Peace Operations, are responsible for protecting human rights.

The following is a collection that exemplifies the work the UN is doing to protect and promote human rights.