As a tool for social change human rights can work at every level, from international to local, writes Louise Gleich.
Human Rights Day is celebrated around the world on 10 December. It marks the occasion in 1948 when the governments of many countries signed the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
International treaties signed by governments in far off places can seem a long way removed from everyday life, but the principles and commitments in these conventions have the potential to bring about great change in our societies.
The United Nations Human Rights Council and specialist committees and commissions meet regularly to consider the human rights situation around the world. Governments of countries that have signed particular conventions must submit periodic reports to the council and commissions to demonstrate the progress they are making in protecting human rights and implementing the convention in their country.
There is another much larger group promoting human rights protection. Nongovernmental organisations (NGOs), campaign groups and community and church groups all monitor the progress that governments are making in implementing human rights protections.
Some NGOs submit their own alternative reports to the United Nations (UN) commissions highlighting human rights abuses and areas lacking protection.
These groups lobby governments to remind them of their obligations under the conventions that they have signed.
Human rights lawyers assist individuals and groups to use the new laws that have been implemented by governments. By using these laws and making courts apply them, these cases play a major role in turning promises and written laws into real changes in behaviour and attitudes in our societies.
We can all promote human rights protection by grasping hold of the underlying principle as set out in article one of the universal declaration, which states: "All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights."
In building churches and communities where women and men participate and work together we support the essence of human rights through awareness and use of the international and national protections and also through developing a Christian sense of human integrity.
At its heart, human rights echo this theme: the central, intrinsic and unchangeable dignity and value of each and every person in the world, without distinction, without qualification, without limitation.
A vision of an ideal society
The list of 30 articles in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights says that humans have rights such as being able to choose their religion and are entitled to things like privacy and a fair trial if they are accused of a crime. It also says they have a right to basic standards of living including education for children and a reasonable wage for workers.
Article two states that the rights and freedoms it lays out are for everyone - male or female, black, white, Christian, Muslim and so on.
The declaration is a set of ideals to which nations refer and which they aspire to fulfil. It is also the basis for other, legally binding conventions, treaties and covenants - most importantly the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which with the declaration constitute the International Bill of Human Rights. States that signed the covenants are legally bound to promote and protect human rights and freedoms.