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December 10, 2008, marked the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the founding document of the modern human rights system. The UDHR is a set of basic rights and protections that are to be enjoyed by all persons throughout the world, regardless of race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. The UDHR recognizes that "the inherent dignity and... the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world."
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The ACLU's mandate today includes not only protection of civil liberties, but protection of civil and human rights. Roger Baldwin, co-founder of the ACLU in 1920, called for ACLU involvement in the international civil liberties community, recognizing the indissoluble connection between what was happening in the rest of the world and American civil rights and civil liberties. Baldwin understood that American rights and liberties cannot be defended in isolation.
The ACLU works in the hope that American law will provide positive models for those defending rights and liberties in other countries. But in the areas where our country is not a leader, we hope that we can learn to follow.
- Susan N. Herman, Foreword to Human Rights Begin at Home
November 2008
Download the Foreword >>
Download the Introduction >>
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Advancing Equality:
Using International Human Rights Strategies to Further Women's Rights at Home
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A Long March to Progress:
The Intersection of Race in America and International Human Rights
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Executing Human Rights:
The Death Penalty in the United States
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The Struggle Continues:
Human Rights and Immigrant Workers
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Faith & Freedom:
Using the UDHR to Practice What We Preach
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Justice Denied:
Immigrant Families Detained at Hutto
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Human Rights on the Judicial Front:
Litigating Protection in U.S. Courts
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Children of Lesser Rights:
The United States Failure to Ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child
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Enabling Everyone:
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
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The Larger Struggle:
Human Security Requires Human Rights
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 While the U.S. government was a leading voice in the creation of the UDHR, its policy and practice over the past 60 years has shown a failure to live up to these ideals. To celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the UDHR, the ACLU launched an advocacy campaign to raise awareness of U.S. obligations and shortcomings under the UDHR and human rights law. A recommitment by the U.S. to the principles and ideals of the UDHR is essential not only for improving U.S. standing in the world, but, more importantly, for its promise to ensure equality and justice for all at home.
Questions? Email: udhr60@aclu.org
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