Dear friends,

As you aware we are raising awareness of the Declaration of Human Rights that was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 10 1948. Most of you know that the Declaration was a direct response to the Second World War, and was the first global document to assert the rights of individuals. It consists of fundamental articles that have gone on to be enshrined in law in various national and international treaties. It is the most translated document in the world and is seen as the backbone of a civilised society. 

The basic principles of the Declaration of Human Rights are the basic tenets, the things that every human being should be entitled to. They include the right to equality, the freedom from discrimination, torture and other basics that most of us simply cannot imagine being necessary. Many states, though, even ones that have signed up to the Declaration of Human Rights of a local derivative, still flout the agreement with alarming regularity.

We are strong believers in the Declaration of Human Rights which is also concerned with a fair trial, as well as being presumed innocent, so that a person accused of doing wrong has the basic right to an effective remedy through the correct tribunal or legal procedure. Equality before the law is also a critical aspect of the Declaration of Human Rights, as is freedom from arbitrary arrest and exile - a well-used procedure that dates back to tribal times. 

People should be allowed free movement in and out of their own country and the declaration also insisted that those persecuted in one nation could seek asylum in another.

I'd love to mention the other simple rights enshrined in the declaration, including the right to marry and have a family, the right to own property, freedom of belief and the ability to express it at peaceful gatherings, the right to participate in government and free elections. 

Social security is another basic requirement, although in the modern world even that is an endangered tenet. The long-forgotten right to join trade unions is in there, which will surprise many of those pressured by employers into rejecting membership. Desirable work, the right to rest and leisure time and the right to an adequate living standard are also written into the document, but it is questionable even today whether these demands have been met. 

Then there's the right to education, the chance to participate in the cultural fabric of the community and the right to live in a society that promotes these values. In all these rights, the individual is supposed to be free from state interference.

I always ask myself-are we there yet? No.

Even today, many of these inalienable rights simply do not hold true. Many states simply do not obey these basic tenets and others, hampered by poor economies and weak judiciary, cannot. 

But the Declaration of Human Rights is more relevant today than it ever was and there are states that oppress individuals based on their beliefs, gender, race and more. So we are passionate about drawing attention to the declaration once more, and bring those basic tenets of life into sharp focus as it bids to make a better future our children.