The 10th of December is the United Nations Human Rights Day, an annual commemoration of the 1948 adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This affirmation that all people are born with inalienable rights and dignity, simply by virtue of their membership of the human family, was a moment of profound historic significance. Many different traditions, philosophies and events had contributed to this development, and it was undoubtedly a reaction to the horrific events which had enfolded around the globe in the 1930s and 1940s. This inspiring document was a conscious turning away from that era, and a declaration of intent to forge a brighter future.
It is undeniable that human rights abuses, and indeed genocide, continue to blight the world, whilst the understanding and interpretation of human rights remain fraught and often politicised endeavours. Which rights truly belong in the canon of fundamental rights? What do individual rights mean? How far are Governments responsible for the economic and social well-being of citizens? When and how should the international community address breaches of rights, perpetrated by sovereign States? All of these topics are as hotly debated and complex now as they were in the mid-twentieth century. Although it would be absurd to pretend the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a panacea, it was of deep significance. However, it was only one important step in an ongoing journey, and consequently, one of the reasons for keeping a special day in the calendar to focus on it, is to address contemporary and future challenges.
In light of all of this, we felt that today was an appropriate occasion to launch the website for a human rights project we are engaged with, along with our friend and colleague Prof Tom Lewis at Nottingham Trent University. We have developed “Brave New World”, which is a suite of games and stories intended to enable groups of people of all ages to explore questions around human rights and law, in a safe and fun context. You can step into fantasy and historical settings, to try your best at living a full and happy life, meeting the needs of a character who may be very different from your real-world self. We invite you to walk in the shoes (or boots/paws) of pilgrims, pirates, goblins or marooned teenagers!
Much more detail is available on our website linked below, and we hope that you will check it out. If you are interested in learning more, please do get in touch with us!
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United Nations Human Rights Day 10 December
