WASHINGTON, Dec. 10, 2018 — The American Bar Association joins the world today in commemorating Human Rights Day and the 70th anniversary of the United States’ adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Article I of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights,” which helps form the foundation of international law and create a more just world. The document helps forge a relationship between the powerful and the powerless and proclaims that every person inherently is entitled to rights as a human being.
The ABA puts these principles into action, both in the United States and around the world, with our advocacy for vulnerable populations. Working to protect the rights of immigrants, the homeless, people with disabilities, survivors of domestic and sexual violence and others, the ABA embraces the ideals put forth in the Universal Declaration. We work to support defenders of human rights and oppressed populations across the globe, always remembering the declaration’s statement that “human rights should be protected by the rule of law.”
As we hail this landmark document that has improved lives around the world for 70 years, the ABA calls on members of the legal community to reaffirm their commitment to protect the rights of all people and fulfill their duty as custodians of the rule of law.
With more than 400,000 members, the American Bar Association is one of the largest voluntary professional membership organizations in the world. As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law. View our privacy statement online. Follow the latest ABA news at www.americanbar.org/news and on Twitter @ABANews.