Human Rights Quotes

Human rights problems will always exist for years to come, but maybe they'll lessen somewhat.

I believe that American engagement, through our embassy, our businesses, and most of all through our people, is the best way to advance our interests and support for democracy and human rights.

In a political context of the utmost significance, ["freedom from fear"] recognizes a human right which, in a broad sense, may be said to sum up the whole philosophy of human rights.

All beings want to live in peace and happiness, undisturbed. Therefore the concept of human rights is universal.

I'm a human rights person. I don't think people should be unfair to men or women.

Many instances of persecution and killing have occurred in countries with atrocious human rights records such as Sri Lanka, Guatemala and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Peace is a civil right which makes other human rights possible. Peace is a precondition for our existence. Peace permits our continued existence.

The destruction of the earth’s environment is the human rights challenge of our time.

Fidel Castro's legacy is one of firing squads, theft, unimaginable suffering, poverty and the denial of fundamental human rights.

During most of the Bush administration, human rights and democracy in Egypt were on the front burner.

No President has ever done more for human rights than I have.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights... stands as a landmark achievement in the history of human liberty.

The rights of some must not be enjoyed by denying the rights of others. Neither can we permit states' rights at the expense of human rights.

I stand on my public record as a defender of the human rights of Muslims, notably my work for Moazzam Begg and other British Muslims detained without trial in Guantanamo Bay.

It is natural for us to pay attention to North Korea and human rights issues of North Korean defectors but I wish people would not try to create stars. The reality is different from Hollywood movies.

The people in Arab countries are now speaking out and asking many questions about human rights, minorities, religion, democracy, "the other," and so on.

New Zealand's been pretty quiet on human rights issues, which we will be taking rather more interest in, and in international labor issues.

I do not criticize people who take a public stand on human rights issues. I express my respect for them. But some people are more influential without a public confrontation.

No practice or tradition trumps the human rights that belong to all of us.

We need to make equal pay and equal opportunity for women and girls a reality so women's rights are human rights once and for all.

I was somewhat confused when senator [Bernie] Sanders said, well, you know, Planned Parenthood and Human Rights Campaign, they're part of the establishment.

Does John Kerry have to give them [Iran] every little thing? You'll pass some sanctions for human rights and missiles, and I'll grudgingly sign on.

China recognizes and also respects the universality of human rights. We will continue our efforts to promote democracy and the rule of law.

The media could do a much better job, that's for sure, especially the media that targets women... Human rights? They couldn't care less!

Vladimir Putin is a human rights abuser, responsible for deaths in Ukraine, Georgia and Syria, not to mention curious murders of his political opponents and journalists.

I officially designated every US ambassador on earth to be my personal human rights representative, and to have the embassy be a haven for people who suffered from abuse by their own government.

My mother, for the last 20 years anyway, would not call herself a Marxist but a human rights activist.

Canada does not just 'go along' in order to 'get along.' We will 'go along,' only if we 'go' in a direction that advances Canada’s values: freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

Happy that New York passed marriage equality tonight. A victory for human rights. Progress.

Slavery, racism, sexism, and other forms of bigotry, subordination, and human rights abuse transform and adapt with the times.

The world should always be concerned whenever a vast human rights violation occurs anywhere on the planet.

I'm more interested in politicians who deal with human rights in their own country rather than lecture the rest of the world.

A United Nations that will not stand up for human rights is a United Nations that cannot stand up for itself.

[Refugees] cannot be stopped, but they can and must be managed better, more humanely, protecting migrants' human rights whilst accepting states' rights to control their borders.

China will certainly pay more attention to human rights.

Setting aside human rights and international law to have an agenda of war and killing and occupation to me is totally unacceptable.

The use of "religion" as an excuse to repress the freedom of expression and to deny human rights is not confined to any country or time.

If the Chinese business community takes the Declaration of Human Rights, core labor standards, and environmental standards seriously, the government of China will take them far more seriously, too.

Using human rights commitments more effectively, either as part of negotiations in the WTO or as part of the trade policy review process, poses issues of equality in a practical venue.

I'm a human rights activist and it doesn't make any sense not to treat everybody the exact same way. It just doesn't make any sense, it's counter intuitive, it's inhuman and it has to stop.

Its up to any government to decide how to react to the denial of basic human rights anywhere in the world, including Egypt.

The Olympics create a space for the complete destruction of human rights in Russia.

I would like to see an agreement that recognizes that we live on the same planet and that some interests, such as human rights, must be universal and that all religions must be respected.

People have no human rights, only the rights that they can gain on the labour market. Above all, wealth and power have to be protected.

In fact, there is a very close correlation between human rights violations and US aid, particularly in Latin America.

Like a human rights lawyer who uses the law to rectify wrongs, I use filmic storytelling for the same effect.

In a justly organized community, however, government exists to secure the right to life and the other human rights that follow from that primary right.

I'm pretty political when it comes to human rights and things like that.

But it also came at a significant cost for human rights, and today's restricted freedom of expression, self-censorship and stunted multiparty democracy.

[Fidel Castro] has a very good [human rights] record.