Human Rights Hub

What are Human Rights? 

The 1948 United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and subsequent treaties establish that rights are inherent to all human beings, regardless of race, gender, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, or any other status. Human rights include the right to life and liberty, freedom from slavery and torture, freedom of opinion and expression, the right to work and education, the right to an adequate standard of living, health, and many more. Everyone is entitled to these rights, without discrimination.

The American Anthropological Association also recognizes the connections between human rights and anthropology, from the rights of anthropologists to conduct their work without fear of harassment or intimidation to the responsibility to act in accordance with human rights, from the opportunities to apply anthropological knowledge in the service of human rights, to the need to ensure equality of opportunity in learning about anthropology and developing a professional career in this field. Read our 2020 statement on Anthropology and Human Rights.