A study of human rights prepares students for their role as global citizens and their study of practices in the world's countries that relate to the rights of human beings. Today, when one talks of human rights it is usually with reference to the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). It is the task of teachers to give students the educational opportunities to increase global awareness and engage in local and global issues that can result in a better, more equal world. The realization of this task requires students to fully understand what human rights are, where they come from, and how they form the basis of human dignity and freedom for all. The UDHR and subsequent human rights conventions have assisted millions of individuals around the world in gaining their rights, making these some of the most influential documents of all times. (Contains 4 notes.)