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Take a closer look at some of the events and stories taking place across the world to celebrate the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

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Spirou

Spirou Magazine’s great talents of comics illustrate the Declaration

28 September 2018


Exhibition now available


Spirou Magazine is published by Editions Dupuis, one of the leading European publishers of comics. Its catalogue includes iconic characters such as The Smurfs, Billy & Buddy, The Bluecoats, Petit Spirou, Lucky Luke, Largo Winch, Gaston Lagaffe, and The Marsupilami.

Since its creation in 1938, Spirou magazine has conveyed human values through its emblematic authors and iconic characters. The family weekly regularly denounced, defended, questioned, and lent its support to advance human rights. It expressed outrage and allowed generations to open up to the problems around us in a caring and humorous way. The little bellhop Spirou is the mascot of the magazine and its main character.

Spirou magazine joins efforts for the anniversary campaign launched by the UN human rights Office with a special edition of the magazine, dedicated to human rights, that will be released on October, 10.

The 30 articles of the Declaration will be depicted by Spirou’s most talented artists and authors like Émile Bravo, Sente and Juillard, Libon, Nob, Derib, Cossu and Bocquet, Delaf and Dubuc, Achdé, Batem, Verron, Yoann and Vehlmann, Cyprien and Paka, Jousselin and many others...

In addition, a #spirou4rights exhibition dedicated to human rights and the Declaration will be shown in October at the Geneva United Nations Headquarters. The #spirou4rights exhibition will also be showcased in different places like Brussels, Erevan, Dakar ... and will be relayed by the Institut Français and Alliance Française network around the world.

In order to give the chance to many people as possible to know about the universal values of the Declaration, the exhibition will be available online in English, French and Spanish, in downloadable and printable format, to be exhibited in various places: schools, libraries, booksellers, companies, cultural centers ...

Spirou fight inequalities protected the weak and showed courage and generosity. Some of the value of the Declaration of Human rights are echoed in his behaviour. That’s why Spirou is now a Human Rights Champion of the UN Human Rights Office.

His commitment to the rights of others is represented by his salute #spirou4rights, two fingers together pointed upwards. Launched on 14 September during the Brussels Comic Strip Festival, the Spirou salute was made by hundreds of visitors to show their support for human rights and shared on social media with the hashtag #spirou4rights.

Do you want to join Spirou and salute human rights?

Make the Spirou salute to reaffirm your commitment to Human rights and share it on social media with the hashtag #spirou4rights

BIG thanks to all our partners: Thalys, Brussels Airlines, Fondation Alliance Française, L’Institut français, Belgian Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Wallonie-Bruxelles International, Amstein, Manotel.


  • I will respect your rights regardless of who you are. I will uphold your rights even when I disagree with you
  • When anyone’s human rights are denied, everyone's rights are undermined, so I will stand up
  • I will raise my voice. I will take action. I will use my rights to stand up for your rights.

people have stood up for human rights

We can all be Human Rights Champions

Tweet, Instagram or YouTube your action using the hashtag #Standup4humanrights.

Spread the word

#Standup4humanrights