UN Declaration of Human Rights: Article 3

Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

This is as basic a right as there can be. It’s one of the foundations of Amnesty International, founded on the belief that people should not be carted off to jail because of their beliefs.

Founded in 1961 Amnesty International has campaigned since then for those people whose basic rights have been taken away from them like the two Portuguese students imprisoned for raising a toast to freedom.

Today the practice of imprisoning people without charge continues along with extra-judicial murder, disappearances and state approved torture.

Whoever you are and wherever you live, you should be able to go about your business free of fear that for some reason you will be taken away.

In some countries we have much to be grateful for. We should also be mindful that others do not share in our good fortune.