The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, drafted by representatives with different legal and cultural backgrounds from all regions of the world, was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on 10 December 1948. It set out, for the first time, fundamental human rights (civil, cultural, economic, political and social) to be universally protected for everyone, without discrimination. Among them: the right to life and liberty, freedom from slavery and torture, freedom of opinion and expression, the right to work and education, and many more. The UDHR is the most translated document in the world and has inspired the constitutions of many newly independent States and many new democracies. Despite significant global consensus on their fundamental importance, human rights continue to be violated by individuals and groups holding power, and they are far from being universally guaranteed. 

Drop by Hohbach 123 (Silicon Valley Archive classroom, Green Library) any time between 2-4 PM on Tuesday, December 10th for this month’s Special, Unique and Rare popup exhibit highlighting items from Stanford Libraries’ collections – artistic, activist, social,  historical, journalistic, institutional – from all over the world that foreground the status of HUMAN RIGHTS.