This reference work documents the history of human rights theory, explains each article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, explores the contemporary human rights movement, and examines the major human rights issues facing the world today. This book is the first to combine historical and contemporary perspectives on these critical issues. The book is organized into four distinct parts. Part 1 traces the evolution of our modern concept of human rights from the classical world to the 1948 adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the document that defines our modern understanding of human rights. Part 2 provides a detailed explanation of all 30 articles of the Universal Declaration. Part 3 offers an overview of the post-1948 human rights movement and its key players, including descriptions of United Nations governmental and nongovernmental organizations throughout the world and biographical sketches of individuals who have had a significant impact on the human rights movement. Part 4 outlines the major problems and issues confronting the human rights movement of today. This book also includes segments on the right to education, the universal right to free education, educational reforms, gender role stereotypes and education, and the limited educational opportunities of women. Appendix 1 is a time line that highlights the history of human rights. Appendix 2 contains eight United Nations documents. (Contains 46 references.) (GCP)