Your Human Rights Book list is finally here!

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Your Human Rights Book list is finally here!

From August to October 2025, we asked people across Europe to vote for their favourite human rights books. Which one inspired you the most? Which one do you remember like it was yesterday?

On 10 Dec 2025

People all over Europe voted over three months for their favourite books. Here are their top 10 picks:

  1. Jacaranda — Gaël Faye
  2. If This Is a Man — Primo Levi
  3. Les Misérables — Victor Hugo
  4. 1984 — George Orwell
  5. To Kill a Mockingbird — Harper Lee
  6. The Handmaid’s Tale — Margaret Atwood
  7. A Thousand Splendid Suns — Khaled Hosseini
  8. Germinal — Émile Zola
  9. The Underground Railroad — Colson Whitehead
  10. The Grapes of Wrath — John Steinbeck
The survey, which took place ahead of Human Rights Day, focused on literature as a means to spark curiosity, encourage discussion, and deepen our understanding of human rights. The wide range of topics also shows the issues that most resonated with participants — from equality and freedom of expression to women’s rights and justice. These books remind us of what is essential and with us everyday: that human rights are not abstract ideas.

You too can share what is essential to you or read about others’ essentials. Join us by sharing your everyday essentials on our platform to help us build a global picture for the campaign, directly on our website or on social media using #OurEverydayRights.

And don't miss the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights' video message for Human Rights Day.

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