People who fought for Human Rights / Civil Rights

A selection of famous people who fought for, campaigned and promoted human / civil rights and freedom. I have grouped people into different sections:

1. Civil rights – Ending slavery, racial discrimination and promoting the equal treatment of people in society.
2. Women’s Rights – People specifically working towards promoting women’s rights.
3. Writers – Authors who have promoted respect for human rights through championing the cause of freedom
4. Humanitarian. People concerned with improving the welfare of others through charitable and humanitarian work.

There is an obvious overlap between different groups. For example, Thomas Jefferson could be placed in civil rights for his passing of the Virginia statute for religious freedom. I placed him in authors for his contribution to drafting the Declaration of Independence and his eloquent expression of human rights.

Famous people who promoted Civil Rights

Abraham Lincoln (1809 – 1865) President of US during the American civil war. Lincoln made the famous Emancipation Proclamation (1863) – declaring “that all persons held as slaves” within the rebellious states “are, and henceforward shall be free.” – This proclamation was followed by the 13th Amendment to the US Constitution (1865) outlawing slavery.
Frederick Douglass (1818-1895) Douglass was a former slave who became committed to working for the emancipation of all slaves and ending the injustice of slavery and racism in America. He gave many stirring speeches criticising injustice and raising the hope for a nation where all people were treated equally regardless of race, sex or religion.
Nelson Mandela (1918 – 2013) Anti-apartheid leader. Mandela, spent over twenty years in jail for his opposition to the racist apartheid system which excluded blacks from many areas of society. He was elected the first President of democratic South Africa in 1994. - “I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities.” – Nelson Mandela.
Martin Luther King (1929 – 1968) Non-violent civil rights leader. Inspired American civil rights movement to achieve greater equality. Helped to organise the 1963 March on Washington, where he gave famous ‘I have a dream’ speech. “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.’
Mikhail Gorbachev (1931 – ) Leader of Soviet Union. Gorbachev, oversaw the transition from Communism to democracy in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, and allowed Berlin wall to come down. Gorbachev also instigated ‘Glasnost’ seeking to end restrictions on free speech and promote religious freedom.
William Wilberforce (1759 – 1833) – Campaigned against slavery, helping to outlaw slavery in Great Britain. The Slavery Abolition Act 1833, was passed three days after his death.
Olaudah Equiano (1745 – 1797) – The first black African slave to write about his experience as a slave. His book ‘The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano‘ played a pivotal role in turning public opinion in Britain against slavery.
Rosa Parks (1913-2005) – Civil Rights activist. Started the Montgomery bus boycott (1955) through her refusal to give up her seat to a white person. She became a prominent spokesperson and figurehead for the American civil rights movement.
Desmond Tutu (1931 – ) Campaigner against apartheid in South Africa. Since the end of apartheid he has campaigned on a wide range of humanitarian issues, seeking to overcome racism, sexism, homophobia, AIDS and poverty.
Thomas Clarkson (1760-1846) – English abolitionist and leading campaigner against slave trade
Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906 – 1945)- Principled Christian activist who opposed Nazi regime in Germany.
He opposed Hitler’s euthanasia program and persecution of the Jews .

Women’s Rights

Mary Wollstonecraft (1759-1797) – Early feminist author who helped to propagate belief in equal rights for women.
Emily Pankhurst (1858-1928) – Suffragette who led campaigns of civil disobedience against a male dominated political system. Pankhurst was sent to jail on several occasions for her activities.
Susan B. Anthony. American suffragist and campaigner for women’s equal rights. Played significant role in women gaining the vote in US.
Malala Yousafzai - (1997- )Pakistani schoolgirl who defied threats of the Taliban to campaign for the right to education. She survived being shot in the head by the Taliban and has become a global advocate for human rights, women’s rights and the right to education. She has sought to emphasis the peaceful nature of Islam and the respect Islam has for education.
Further reading: women who changed the world

Democracy

Mahatma Gandhi (1869 – 1948) – Indian nationalist and politician. Struggled for Indian self-determination and independence. Gandhi inspired millions through his non-violent protests. Gandhi also sought to improve rights of women and outcasts in Indian society.
Lech Walesa. Leader of Polish Solidarity Movement. Became first non-Communist President in 1991. Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1983.
14th Dalai Lama. (1935 – ) Leader of Tibetans in exile. Has sought to negotiate with Chinese to respect traditions and culture of Tibetans. Believes in non-violent protest.
Aung San Suu Kyi (1945 – ) Burmese opposition leader. Awarded Nobel peace prize for opposition to military rule. Aung San Suu Kyi was placed under house arrest for many years due to her opposition.
Shirin Ebadi. (1947 – ) Iranian judge and lawyer. She fought for the right for women to purse a legal career in Iran. She has also defended opposition dissidents who have fallen foul of the Iranian judicial system.
Benazir Bhutto. (1953-2007) First female President of Pakistan. Helped to move country from military dictatorship to democracy in 1988.

Writers

Thomas Jefferson (1743- 1826) 3rd President of US. Principle author of Declaration of Independence.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. ” – Declaration of Independence.
George Orwell (1903 – 1950) – Author of Animal Farm and 1984, Orwell helped to warn of the dangers of totalitarian states. He also wrote in support of the disadvantaged sections of society, and criticised imperialism.
Tom Paine – Free thinking radical who passionately argued for greater democracy and representation for ordinary people. He wrote ‘Common Sense’ supporting American independence, and ‘Rights of Man‘ in defence of the principles of the French Revolution.

Humanitarians

Abbe Pierre (1912 – 2007) French humanitarian. A Catholic priest known for founding the Emmaüs movement, which has the goal of helping poor and homeless people and refugees.
Helen Keller (1880-1968) Deaf-blind from early childhood, Keller overcoming her disability to campaigned tirelessly on behalf of deaf and blind people.
Elizabeth Fry (1780-1845) Prison reform campaigner. Fry was instrumental in raising awareness of the poor conditions in British prisons and campaigning for more humane conditions.
John Howard (1726 – 1790) – 18th century prison reformer.