What is The Universal Declaration of Human Rights?

From the ashes of World War II, humanity’s last global crisis, was forged the United Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The UDHR is a milestone document drafted on the 10^th of December 1948, by representatives with different legal and cultural backgrounds from all regions of the world. The UDHR sets out, for the first time in history, fundamental human rights to be universally protected.

Why a Human Right?

Rights-based approaches have a strong history of catalyzing change. Consider the campaign to abolish slavery, the women’s rights movement and the recognition of the rights of indigenous people.

Michele Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, referring to climate change, recently warned that, “the world has never seen a human rights threat of this scope.” Due to environmental harms, over nine million people die prematurely every year and hundreds of millions of people suffer illnesses. Climate change impacts – more frequent and intense storms, droughts, wildfires and rising sea levels – and threatens the health, well-being and dignity of billions of people.

Consider- Air pollution, Waste Management, Deforestation, Contaminated Ground Water – The List is endless. It’s high time the world’s governments woke up to the gravity of the environmental situation and acted accordingly.

What should I do next?

Sign and share the petition to make it a UN-recognized human right to live on a healthy planet.

And spread the word, quickly! It may seem overwhelming, but it’s true: to emerge from these crises, to ensure our future and that of the planet, we need to entirely transform humanity’s relationship with nature. This human right helps make that happen.