Rotary’s causes are human rights causes and are linked to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Click to Join Proposed Human Rights Empathy Rotary Action Group. 

Non-Rotarians can make up 20% of a Rotary Action Group.

Emphasizing historic Rotary friendships and our involvement in chartering the United Nations, we will strive to encourage and promote our shared duty to care for one another’s freedom and human rights, both within and beyond our Rotary Clubs. This Rotary Action Group is for Rotarians, Rotaractors, and Rotary Youth Exchange families who want to be more effective during Rotary Club Article 14 conversations on “any public question involving the welfare of the community, the nation, and the world.”

Click to Complete Short Survey

In 1940, Rotary International passed a human rights resolution in Havana, Cuba, which stated, “where freedom, justice, truth, sanctity of the pledged word, and respect for human rights do not exist, Rotary cannot live nor its ideal prevail.” This resolution served as a foundational document in the development of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Here’s a short video produced by Rotary International in 1995:

Since Rotarians have siloed human rights interests, as reflected in The Rotary Foundation’s seven human rights causes, we will serve as a community of practice for promoting the moral why of any human right outlined in the UDHR Preamble and Articles 1, 2, and 28-30. 

UDHR PREAMBLE

Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,

Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people,

Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law,

Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations,

Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,

Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in cooperation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms,

Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge,

Now, therefore, The General Assembly proclaims this Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.

Article 1

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Article 2

Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.

Article 28

Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized.

Article 29

1) Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible.

2) In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society.

3) These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Article 30

Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.

Privacy  |  Terms of Service   ©2026 Empathy Surplus Project All rights reserved. Website developed, maintained, and secured in Ohio by REBEL-IST