Universal Declaration of Human Rights

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted and proclaimed by the General Assembly
as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and
every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to
promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to
secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among, the peoples of Member States
themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.
Forty-eight States voted in favour of the Declaration, none against, with eight abstentions. In a statement
following the voting, the President of the General Assembly pointed out that adoption of the Declaration was
"a remarkable achievement, a step forward in the great evolutionary process. It was the first occasion onwhich the organized community of nations had made a Declaration of human rights and fundamental
freedoms. The instrument was backed by the authority of the body of opinion of the United Nations as a
whole, and millions of people -men, women and children all over the world- would turn to it for help,
guidance and inspiration.
The Declaration consists of a preamble and 30 articles, setting forth the human rights and fundamental
freedoms to which all men and women, everywhere in the world, are entitled, without any discrimination.
Article 1, which lays down the philosophy on which the Declaration is based, reads:
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and
conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
The article thus defines the basic assumptions of the Declaration: that the right to liberty and equality is
man's birthright and cannot be alienated: and that, because man is a rational and moral being, he is
different from other creatures on earth and therefore entitled to certain rights and freedoms which other
creatures do not enjoy.
Article 2, which sets out the basic principle of equality and non discrimination as regards the enjoyment of
human rights and fundamental freedoms, forbids "distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex,
language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status".
Article 3, the first cornerstone of the Declaration, proclaims the right to life, liberty and security of person -a
right essential to the enjoyment of all other rights. This article introduces articles 4 to 21, in which other civil
and political rights are set out, including: freedom from slavery and servitude; freedom from torture and
cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; the right to recognition everywhere as a person
before the law; the right to an effective judicial remedy; freedom from arbitrary arrest, detention or exile;
the right to a fair trial and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal; the right to be presumed
innocent until proved guilty; freedom from arbitrary interference with privacy, family, home or
correspondence; freedom of movement and residence; the right of asylum; the right to a nationality; the
right to marry and to found a family; the right to own property; freedom of thought, conscience and
religion; freedom of opinion and expression; the right to peaceful assembly and association; and the right to
take part in the government of one's country and to equal access to public service in one's country.
Article 22, the second cornerstone of the Declaration, introduces articles 23 to 27, in which economic, social
and cultural rights -the rights to which everyone is entitled "as a member of society" -are set out. The article
characterizes these rights as indispensable for human dignity and the free development of personality, and
indicates that they are to be realized "through national effort and international cooperation". At the same
time, it points out the limitations of realization, the extent of which depends on the resources of each State.
The economic, social and cultural rights recognized in articles 22 to 27 include the right to social security;
the right to work; the right to equal pay for equal work; the right to rest and leisure; the right to a standard
of living adequate for health and well-being; the right to education; and the right to participate in the
cultural life of the community.
The concluding articles, articles 28 to 30, recognize that everyone is entitled to a social and international
order in which the human rights and fundamental freedoms set forth in the Declaration may be fully
realized, and stress the duties and responsibilities which each individual owes to his community. Article 29
states that "in the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as
are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and
freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in
a democratic society". It adds that in no case may human rights and fundamental freedoms be exercised
contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations. Article 30 emphasizes that no State, group or
person may claim any right, under the Declaration, "to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at
the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth" in the Declaration