While the concept of human rights dates back at least to Cyrus the Great, the ancient king of Persia who freed slaves, declared the freedom to choose one's religion, and established racial equality in his kingdom, history is marked by innumerable violations of what the Romans called "natural law." The University of Texas Libraries' Human Rights Documentation Initiative (HRDI) seeks to document human rights struggles around the world in an effort to advocate for greater equity and understanding. Here readers will find sections on the Free Burma Rangers, the Rwandan Genocide, the Guatemalan National Police abuses, and other collections dedicated to exposing and ameliorating human rights violations around the world. While each section is unique (the section on Burma, for instance, is made up mostly of video footage), all of the materials share a commitment to clear and honest documentation.
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