One of the great achievements of the United Nations is the creation of a comprehensive body of human rights law, a universal and internationally protected code to which all nations and peoples can subscribe and aspire. The foundations of this body of law are the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the General Assembly in 1945 and 1948 respectively. Since then, the United Nations has gradually expanded human rights law to encompass specific standards for women, children, persons with disabilities, minorities and other vulnerable groups who now possess rights that protect them from discrimination. All of the Sustainable Development Goals promote basic human rights, including the right to health, the right to adequate food, the right to justice and due process, and the right to self-determination.
Through the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Human Rights Council and UN not only monitors compliance with human rights treaties but also coordinates its efforts towards the protection and promotion of human rights through education and awareness campaigns on human rights issues and offering training programs with technical advice for numerous national judicial and penal systems throughout the world.
To participate effectively in the economic, social and political life of their communities, young people must be given the proper tools, such as information about and access to their civil rights. Universities can help in this regard by providing relevant classes and information to students, as well as coordinated efforts with NGOs and other non-academic institutions.