Primary Source Documents
Looking to include primary sources and discussions about human rights in existing curriculum? Our staff has curated a collection of historical documents related to human rights that educators can add into existing lessons.
Many of the documents have been edited for length in order to make them usable in a classroom setting. Omissions are clearly indicated by […].
Children's Day in Bulgaria, 1928 (via Wikimedia Commons)
Documents by Theme
The following pages include documents related to major topics in the field of human rights. These lists are not exhaustive, but do illustrate some of the international community’s work in these fields.
International Bill of Human Rights
Children reading the universal declaration of human rights (iMAGE VIA UN PHOTO, UN7720844)
Modern Documents
The documents listed here are from the 20th and 21st centuries. Originating from around the world, these documents demonstrate the international community’s dedication to protecting and promoting human rights.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Convention on the Crime and Punishment of Genocide
African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights
U.S. Declaration of independence (via wikimedia commons)
Historical documents
The documents listed here were created prior to the 20th century. They are both legal documents and literary or other cultural documents that influenced society’s perception of the value and domain of human rights.
Code of Hammurabi
Cyrus Cylinder
Constitution of Medina
Magna Carta
U.S. Declaration of Independence
Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen
Declaration of the Rights of Woman and of the Female Citizen