About Human Rights

Prisoners of Conscience is committed to supporting human rights defenders. But what rights are these individuals defending? What do they do to defend them? And more importantly, why do they need our support or protection?

What rights do people have?

Fundamental freedoms and rights that are shared by all people are known as human rights. They acknowledge and safeguard every individual's dignity, from conception to death. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights outlines them. The right to freedom of religion and expression are two examples.

So, what are violations of human rights?

The denial of any of these fundamental freedoms is a human rights violation. Human rights are violated when they are not upheld or are flagrantly ignored. There are violations everywhere in the world. Fair elections, for instance, prevent people from voting for more than one candidate in a country. Human rights abuses and violations differ legally because they are committed by different groups of people. Violations either result directly from the state's actions or indirectly from the state's failure to prevent them. Non-state actors, such as rebel groups and individuals, abuse human rights.

Who are advocates for human rights?

These are people who act to advance or safeguard basic freedoms. By peacefully upholding our shared rights, these individuals, who are also known as human rights activists, strive to make the world a better and more equitable place. Human rights defenders' actions include using the media to raise awareness of violations or peacefully protesting to lobby people in positions of influence. But there is more than one way to safeguard human rights. Activists engage in a wide range of activities and come from all walks of life.

For what reason Do They Need Our Help?

Being a human rights activist comes with a lot of risks, unfortunately. In 2019, a human rights advocate was killed in Colombia every four days1. A state or group may target these individuals if they believe their authority has been compromised or their reputation has been questioned. Human rights activists' retaliation is a significant global issue. In addition to not having access to adequate healthcare, many are held in harsh conditions. Defenders may face harassment, bullying, and intimidation in addition to persecution. They might also encounter murder, sexual abuse, torture, and violence.

A person who is similarly targeted for peacefully expressing their religious convictions is known as a prisoner of conscience. Human rights defenders and prisoners of conscience face severe forms of persecution and require our assistance.

As democratic governments and global organisations charged with upholding human rights seem increasingly powerless to stop the tide of human rights abuses by authoritarian states, it is often the bravery of ordinary men and women that upholds the human rights of all of us.