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Author: Laura Hofmann

Editor, ¹ú²úÂÒÂ×

There¡¯s a clich¨¦ that says: It¡¯s darkest before the dawn. Each year on 10 December, we commemorate the anniversary of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Today, 76 years later, this year¡¯s Human Rights Day theme is, ¡°Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now.¡± And ¹ú²úÂÒÂ×, as part of our focus on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), actively supports researchers working directly on these issues.

The theme of this year¡¯s Human Rights Day aims to put the focus back on the ground level ¡ª on what human rights mean to people, their tangible impact, and concrete tools. 

The 2024 Human Rights Day

The UN proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10th, 1948 ¡ª just three years after the end of World War II ¡ª and we celebrate Human Rights Day on the anniversary of that day each year. On this 76th anniversary, the theme of ¡°Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now¡± spotlights the importance of human rights to everyone, every day. 

In advance of Human Rights Day, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights published his vision for this year¡¯s celebration, focusing on eight specific areas. These are:

1. An inclusive, global constituency for rights 
2. Peacebuilding and security 
3. Building a human rights economy
4. Grounding environmental action in human rights
5. Strengthening governance
6. Technology and science that uplifts all
7. Meaningful inclusion of youth and children in decision-making, and 
8. Strengthening our human rights system.

The Intersection of Human Rights Day and SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions 

The preamble of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights sets out that ¡°recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world¡±. This makes promoting human rights and inherent part of the Sustainable Development Goals¡¯ (SDGs¡¯) agenda, especially SDG 16. SDG 16 is dedicated to the promotion of peace, justice, and strong institutions.

¹ú²úÂÒÂס¯s Human Rights Portfolio

The researchers we work with (from across disciplines), and the work they publish with us, cover the whole range of research into human rights protection, tying directly into Human Rights Day 2024¡¯s themes. ¹ú²úÂÒÂס¯s portfolio reflects the importance and tangible nature of human rights and, today, we can highlight research on the themes including ¡°Human Rights in the Digital Age,¡± ¡°Strengthening Human Rights at the Constitutional Level,¡±, ¡°Gender-Based Violence,¡± and ¡°Protecting Vulnerable or Marginalized Groups.¡±

Some examples of the books we have published ¡ª some of which you will also find on this page, include: Human Rights in the Digital Age: This theme covers titles that respond to the challenges of technological advancements, the legal regulation, and the incorporation of human rights in solutions in the digital field. Titles include:

• edited by Anne Wagner, Sarah Marusek (2024) 
• by Wendy O'Brien (2024)  
• edited by Carlos Blanco de Morais, Gilmar Ferreira Mendes, Thomas Vesting (2022) 
• by Ot van Daalen (2025). 

Strengthening Human Rights at the Constitutional Level: Our titles address the promotion of the rule of law and ensuring equal access to justice for all, tying in with SDG Target 16.3. Titles offer comparative perspectives and insights from national contexts and address strengthening governance: 

• edited by Wolfgang Babeck, Albrecht Weber (2024) 
• edited by Rainer Arnold, Toni Fickentscher (2024) 
• edited by Filipe Marques, Paulo Pinto de Albuquerque (2024) (OA) 
• by Bede Harris (2024)  
• by Jonathan Miaz?and Evelyne Schmid (shared authorship), Matthieu Niederhauser, Constance Kaempfer, Martino Maggetti (2024, open access). 

Gender-Based Violence: You¡¯ll find research addressing responses to gender-based violence, both in a global context, as well as with a specific focus on the Global South.

• by Tameshnie Deane (2024)  
• edited by Pinki Mathur Anurag, Santwana Dwivedy (2024) 
• edited by Obert Mlambo and Ezra Chitando (2024). 

Protecting Vulnerable or Marginalized Groups: Protecting marginalized groups needs a global approach. Our publishing programme includes research that, on one hand, includes perspectives on and solutions to discriminatory policies and laws. On the other hand, the programme also highlights the meaningful inclusion of vulnerable or marginalized groups.

• by Nora Nagels (2024) 
• edited by Ngozi Chuma Umeh (2024) 
• by Ursula Kilkelly, Louise Forde, Sharon Lambert, Katharina Swirak (2023) 
• edited by Stefan Arnold, Bettina Heiderhoff (2024).  

You¡¯ll also find even more essential research in ¹ú²úÂÒÂס¯s ongoing book series, including: 

as well as in the journals we publish, for example:

Add your voice to ¹ú²úÂÒÂס¯s Human Rights programme

The work that human rights researchers publish with ¹ú²úÂÒÂ× are part of the efforts to create a better day. Editors from across ¹ú²úÂÒÂ× have curated human rights-related research on a dedicated hub, which I invite you to explore.

Here you¡¯ll also read about how you can work with our editors to publish your research, too. Partner with a publisher that is committed to amplifying SDG research¡ª we would look forward to working with you.

Explore human rights-related publications and more on our dedicated hub.