The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Adopted by the United Nations, December 10, 1948
Preamble
Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,
Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people,
Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as
a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law,
Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations
between nations,
Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,
Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in cooperation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms,
Whereas common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realisation of this pledge,
Now, therefore,
The General Assembly
Proclaims this Universal Declaration of Human Rights 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.
Articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
History of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
12 comments:
It's not just you. Too bad Halliburton doesn't run the UN. Maybe the US would listen to it then. Sometimes I think people completely divorced from politics whose main qualities are good and generous hearts should be the only apointees.
Cool! I just worked with 120 high school students in Penticton on the UDHR. I had them sit in groups and told them they now live in a country that can't guarantee all the rights. They had to choose 5 to let go of.
Good debate!
Kat - hey glad to see you back! US listen... hmmmm there's a thought. I wonder if the corrupt get into politics or if it is that politics corrupt....
Gary - sounds like brillant work! my 13yr has just been learning about sweatshops and child-labour and its been a fantastic eye-openner for her and her siblings. her teacher actually surprised them one day and turned the class into a sweatshop - they got 1hour of it - it was quite a lesson.
What a wonderful world it would be...
As long as the powers that be in the U.S. continue to put money over people, and people in the U.S. continue to consume without conscience, there is no way we can achieve this goal. At least the U.S. used to have the moral authority to lead the attack on human rights abuses, now people like Putin can laugh when the U.S. government attacks their human rights abuses.
sigh . . .
I think the US signed it with a pencil. The pencil apparently also had an eraser.
The legal binding documents that came from this declaration are the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural rights. The first is signed by the US. The second was signed by Clinton but Bush has refused to bring it to congress for ratification. It guarantees things about marriage, work, homes, food, education, cultural identity.
FYI - (I'm a human rights geek)
FYI - (me too, although your tatoo gives ya away...)
why on earth would we need to guarantee unimportant things like marriage, work, homes, food, education and cultural identity? we all know all the REAL people have all that straight (you know the ones God and Jesus love best) - the white upper class Christians, and really who else matters? its their God given right for those Hummers, and to consume without a thought for others, and the poor, and all the other "distasteful" "less worthy" "people" brought everything upon themselves anyhow....
I try to get this straight - but somehow its just not sticking...
Patrica - damn those eraserheads! in pencil with their fingers crossed....
"I'm not black, but sometimes I wish I wasn't white."
copyright, Frank Zappa
I'm a blogaholic on a bender.
LOVE that quote - and agree wholeheartedly - white is, well ... so white bread sometimes, ya know?
enjoy your bender - thanks for stopping by.
Your site is on top of my favourites - Great work I like it.
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