The following is copied from an Amnesty International site

Defend the defenders of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights

HUMAN RIGHTS FOR ALL

Fifty years ago, the world said ''never again'' to the atrocities of the Second World War. It declared that all human beings, wherever they live and whoever they are, have rights that must be respected in all circumstances.

These rights were set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), proclaimed by the United Nations on 10 December 1948. They remain absolutely fundamental to everyone's well-being.

Yet governments worldwide treat these rights with contempt. Soldiers kill unarmed civilians, violating their right to life. Police rape prisoners, violating their right not to be tortured. Officials deny education to children from ethnic minorities, violating their right not to suffer discrimination.

Every one of the UDHR's 30 basic rights - from the right to equality to the right to participate in cultural life - is violated every day somewhere in the world.

That is why Amnesty International believes that it is time to remind all governments once again of the basic human rights principles that they have promised to uphold. If people know their rights, they are better able to defend them. That is why raising awareness about the UDHR is so important.

For people in some countries, standing up for human rights is dangerous.

That is why this campaign aims to build international solidarity with the people in the frontline of the struggle for human rights. Join us now.

For more information, contact Amnesty International in your country or write to: Amnesty International, International Secretariat, 1 Easton Street, London WC1X 8DJ, United Kingdom.

"Defend the defenders of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights." Amnesty International. 30 April 97. AI. 11 Aug. 2002 <http://www.askjeeves.com/main/metaAnswer.asp?t=ai&s=ai&MetaEngine=directhit&en=te&eo=2&o=0&frames=True&url=http%3A%2F%2Fask%2Edirecthit%2Ecom%2Ffcgi %2Dbin%2Fredirurl%2Efcg%3Furl%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eweb%2Eamnesty%2Eorg%2Fai%2Ensf%2F55a6d4cfd8a7fd9580256af600695810%2Fbd1b6a1e9d1479f880 2569a5007181c1%2521OpenDocument%26qry%3Dwho%2Bsigned%2Bthe%2Buniversal%2Bdeclaration%2Bof%2Bhuman%2Brights%253f%26rnk%3D6%26cz%3D8e6399a5d7 bbb6c%26src%3DDH%5FASK%5FSRCH%26uid%3D088bac0784aaa55d3%26sid%3D10e52d0784aaa55d3%26u%3D&ac=22&adcat=news&pt=Amnesty+International+On%2 Dline%2C+Defend+the+defenders+of+the+Universal+Declaration+of+Human+Rights&dm=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eweb%2Eamnesty%2Eorg%2Fai%2Ensf%2F55a6d4cfd8a7 fd9580256af600695810%2Fbd1b6a1e%2E%2E%2E&io=5&qid=9960088556C2144AB5C041D99E88DDBE&back=ask%3DWho%2Bsigned%2Bthe%2BUniversal%2BDeclaration %2Bof%2BHuman%2BRights%253F%26o%3D0%26x%3D7%26y%3D11&ask=Who+signed+the+Universal+Declaration+of+Human+Rights%3F&dt=020810170809&amt=>.