Millions of human rights activists around the world have crafted a new way of doing politics, based on bringing principle into practice. These principles are summarized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: “All human beings are free and equal in rights and dignity.” It begins by using global communications to capture the hearts and minds of global publics. Coalitions of local and global activists pressure governments “from above and below,” and put new issues on the agenda—from forced disappearance to female genital mutilation. Human rights campaigns provide information on global suffering, affecting images that promote identification with victims, the formation of solidarity networks, and explanations that trace international connections.      Keywords:    civil rights,  empowerment,  freedom,  globalization,  human rights,  Africa,  Americas,  Asia