The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

As we approach the 60th anniversary of the signing of the declaration of these rights one of Australia's leading book publishers, Allen & Unwin, has published in conjunction with Amnesty International, the first ever illustrated book of The Universal Declaration.

The illustrations by Michel Streich are quite charming and provide a beautiful and fresh interpretation of this important and remarkable document. Sreich was born in Germany, worked in London for several years, but since 200 has lived in Sydney where his work has appeared on The Bulletin, The Australian Financial Review and other newspapers and magazines. He has also illustrated a number of other books.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Sadly enough, we have entered the 21th century with more human right inequalities and contradictions in the world than ever. Our parliaments have outlawed a range of inhumane practices and passed laws intended to ensure fair treatment for all; yet human rights organizations remind us that for many of the world’s 6 billion human beings, life continues to be a painful struggle for existence against injustice and abuse.



In its yearly reports, Amnesty International describes significant human rights violations in almost 200 countries. The number of complaints to the European Court of Human Rights has soared by over 3,000% between 1988 and 2008.



Human rights are defined as “the basic rights and freedoms to which all humans are entitled, often held to include the right to life and liberty, freedom of thought and expression, and equality before the law.”



More than fifty years ago, the United Nations Human Rights Commission, chaired by Eleanor Roosevelt, drafted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Soon after, the Declaration inspired the European Convention on Human Rights, one of the most important Conventions in the European Community.