December 10 is Human Rights Day. On this day we remember the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and its call for liberty, justice and freedom for all people regardless of race, creed, caste and gender. Unfortunately the goals noted down in 1948 are still but an aspiration for many people around the world. This year is the 20th since the day was first proclaimed. To get involved follow the conversation on Twitter at #unrightsat20.

These images from the Visited Planet database illustrate some of the rights of the charter.

Article 21.

• (1) Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.
• (2) Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country.
• (3) The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.

East Timor’s free and fair democratic elections in 2012 were greeted with exuberance and celebration.

Article 1.

• All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
  

  Men working together in the rubbish collection district of Cipete, Jakarta. Moments later they turned and gave me huge smiles and a thumbs up.

Article 13.

• (1) Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state.
• (2) Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.

Traffic gridlock in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Article 20.

• (1) Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
• (2) No one may be compelled to belong to an association.

Children enjoying the celebrations in Kuala Lumpur’s Merdeka Square for Malaysia’s Independence Day.

Article 24.

• Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.

These men, and this child, were hard at work at one of the brick factories in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Article 26.

• (1) Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.

School children in a village school in the hills near Kalaw, Myanmar.

• (2) Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.
• (3) Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.

School kids keen to get into the photograph in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Article 27.

• (1) Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.

Children with muscular dystrophy and some friends and family take part in a photography class thanks to Cameras for Asia.

Read all the articles in the charter here.

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Feel free to email Jo at [email protected] with your comments/thoughts/photo aspirations. See and learn more at www.visitedplanet.com