. Sean Mac Bride (1904-1988)

Born in Ireland, Sean Mac Bride, along with Peter Benenson, founded Amnesty International. Mac Bride was President of this organization from 1961 to 1974. In 1974 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

. Thérèse Casgrain (1896-1981)

Born in Montréal, Thérèse Casgrain is well known for her campaign to secure the right to vote for women. Founding member of the Civil Liberties Union (1960) and the Fédération des femmes du Québec, Thérèse Casgrain was appointed to the Senate in 1970.

. Harlem Désir

Founded the SOS Racism movement in France.

. Elisabeth Fry (1780-1845)

An ardent militant, Elisabeth Fry led a vast movement for more humane conditions in prisons.

. John Peters Humphrey (1905-1995)

This law professor at McGill University is thought to have been the author of the first draft of the UDHR. He was the first Director of the UN Human Rights Division, a position he held from 1946 to 1966. Humphrey devoted more than 40 years of his life to the human rights cause.

. Martin Luther King (1929-1968)

This militant American Reverend campaigned for the end of Black segregation in the United States. He was assassinated.

. Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)

American President from 1860 until his assassination in 1865, Abraham Lincoln is remembered mainly for his opposition to slavery.

. Mother Theresa (1910-1997)

Born Agnès Gonxha Bojaxhui, this native Albanian worked with the poor and destitute in the name of love and compassion.

. Lester B. Pearson (1897-1972)

Canadian politician and Liberal party leader from 1958 onwards, Lester B. Pearson was Prime Minister of Canada from 1963 to 1968. He is remembered for having created the UN peacekeeping forces, for which he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957.

. Eleonor Roosevelt (1884-1662)

Eleonor Roosevelt was President of the UN Commission on Human Rights at the time when the UDHR was drafted.

. San Suu KYI Aung (1945-)

Nobel Peace Prize recipient in 1991, San Suu KYI Aung was placed under house arrest by the Burmese State that she actively criticized for antidemocratic acts.

. Voltaire (1694-1778)

In the field of rights and freedoms, this French writer campaigned on behalf of the victims of miscarriages of justice, especially in the Calas case.