Photography 4 Humanity

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights is the leading UN entity on human rights with a unique mandate to promote and protect all human rights for all people. Under the leadership of the High Commissioner, with a staff of 1,300 working in more than 100 countries, it aims to make human rights a reality in the lives of people everywhere.

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights

Human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, whatever our nationality, place of residence, sex, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, language, or any other status. Everyone is entitled to these rights, without discrimination.

Human Rights are Universal

The principle of universality of human rights is the cornerstone of international human rights law. This principle, as first emphasized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, has been reiterated in numerous international human rights conventions, declarations, and resolutions. The 1993 Vienna World Conference on Human Rights noted that "All human rights are universal, indivisible and interdependent and interrelated."

75^thAnniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

In 2023, the 75^th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is being celebrated as a milestone in the history of human rights. Drafted by representatives with different legal and cultural backgrounds from all regions of the world, the Declaration was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on 10 December 1948 as a common standard of achievements for all peoples and all nations. It sets out, for the first time, fundamental human rights to be universally protected and has been translated into over 500 languages.

The United Nations and Human Rights

The advancement of all human rights, including the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, is a key purpose of the United Nations, which supports mechanisms established to promote and protect these rights and directly assists states in carrying out their human rights obligations.

"The climate crisis is the biggest threat to our survival as a species and is already threatening human rights around the world."

- António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations

About Photography 4 Humanity

Photography 4 Humanity calls upon photographers around the world to bring to life the power of human rights. With compelling images that illustrate courage, despair, hope, injustice, compassion, and human rights victories and failures, large and small, this project aims to inspire people to get involved and take a stand for human rights. Based in Boulder Colorado, Photography 4 Humanity is an initiative led by world-renowned photographers that works with Eminent Jurors to help select top images from around the world to be featured in the annual Photography 4 Humanity exhibit by the United Nations. For more information and a list of Eminent Jurists, visit: Photography4Humanity.com

About Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Alliance

The Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Alliance addresses climate change as the human rights crisis that leading scientists and human rights advocates, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, have declared it to be. The initiative supports effective, human rights-based implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on climate change. For more information visit: righthererightnow.global

The Collaboration

In 2022 the Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Alliance started to collaborate with Photography 4 Humanity to feature images of people affected by climate change.