The Enduring Declaration of Freedom and Human Rights

Everyday we hear news about inequality, injustice, and violence directly affecting people from deep poverty, issues particularly against women, lower castes, indigenous people, the disabled, and minorities to name a few. We have seen and, for some, even experienced human rights violations. I believe we can better defend and protect our Human Rights if we first get to know, to learn, and to acknowledge what they are. From there, we can continue from the aspirations and achievements laid before us as we strive to be better men and progressive citizens of the global community. We all can share and inspire about positive and lasting change in society. And, ultimately, leave an enduring legacy for our children and future generations.

Together with participants for Blog Action Day, let us unite with the rest of the world by posting about Human Rights in order to raise awareness and trigger a positive global discussion around this important issue that impacts us all.

A Brief History of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) came as a world milestone and a legitimate enlightenment after the countries were badly devastated and drenched with atrocities brought about by World War II. Looking beyond and accepting the right of all individual to live in peaceful environment, the UDHR was drafted promising that war and conflict of such kind would never exist.

The document, which would later become the UDHR, was prepared by The Commission on Human Rights made up of 18 members from various political, cultural and religious backgrounds. The UDHR Drafting Committee was chaired by Eleanor Roosevelt, widow of America president Franklin D. Roosevelt. Mrs. Roosevelt, recognized as the pioneer behind the document, considered her work on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to be her most important accomplishment.

Rene Cassin of France prepared the first draft of the declaration. Vice-chairman Peng Chung Chang of China and the Committee Rapportuer Charlkes Malik of Lebanon were among those involved. John Humprey of Canada, Director of the UN’s Human Rights Division prepared the Declaration’s blueprint. On 10 December 1948, the UDHR was adopted by the 56 members of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in Paris where the vote was unanimous although eight nations choose to abstain.

† Image on the "First meeting of the Drafting Committee on an International Bill of Rights," accessed on 16 October 2013 from the website of the United Nations Audiovisual Library of International Law, located at http://www.un.org/law/avl.

What are Human Rights?^*

Human Rights are rights inherent to all human beings, whatever our nationality, place of residence, sex, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, language, or any other status. We are all equally entitled to our human rights without discrimination. These rights are all interrelated, interdependent and indivisible.

Universal human rights are often expressed and guaranteed by law, in the forms of treaties, customary international law, general principles and other sources of international law. International human rights law lays down obligations of Governments to act in certain ways or to refrain from certain acts, in order to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms of individuals or groups.

Universal and Inalienable^*

The principle of universality of human rights is the cornerstone of international human rights law. This principle, as first emphasized in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights in 1948, has been reiterated in numerous international human rights conventions, declarations, and resolutions. The 1993 Vienna World Conference on Human Rights, for example, noted that it is the duty of States to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms, regardless of their political, economic and cultural systems.

All States have ratified at least one, and 80% of States have ratified four or more, of the core human rights treaties, reflecting consent of States which creates legal obligations for them and giving concrete expression to universality. Some fundamental human rights norms enjoy universal protection by customary international law across all boundaries and civilizations.

Human rights are inalienable. They should not be taken away, except in specific situations and according to due process. For example, the right to liberty may be restricted if a person is found guilty of a crime by a court of law.

Interdependent and Indivisible^*

All human rights are indivisible, whether they are civil and political rights, such as the right to life, equality before the law and freedom of expression; economic, social and cultural rights, such as the rights to work, social security and education, or collective rights, such as the rights to development and self-determination, are indivisible, interrelated and interdependent. The improvement of one right facilitates advancement of the others. Likewise, the deprivation of one right adversely affects the others.

† Image of Henri Laugier, Assistant UN Secretary-General for the Department of Social Affairs, chatting informally with Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt as they await the opening of the first session of the Commission on Human Rights, at the UN’s interim headquarters in Lake Success, New York, January 1947, accessed on 16 October 2013 from the website of the United Nations Audiovisual Library of International Law, located at http://www.un.org/law/avl.

Equal and Non-discriminatory^*

Non-discrimination is a cross-cutting principle in international human rights law. The principle is present in all the major human rights treaties and provides the central theme of some of international human rights conventions such as the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.

The principle applies to everyone in relation to all human rights and freedoms and it prohibits discrimination on the basis of a list of non-exhaustive categories such as sex, race, colour and so on. The principle of non-discrimination is complemented by the principle of equality, as stated in Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.”

Both Rights and Obligations^*

Human rights entail both rights and obligations. States assume obligations and duties under international law to respect, to protect and to fulfil human rights. The obligation to respect means that States must refrain from interfering with or curtailing the enjoyment of human rights. The obligation to protect requires States to protect individuals and groups against human rights abuses. The obligation to fulfil means that States must take positive action to facilitate the enjoyment of basic human rights. At the individual level, while we are entitled our human rights, we should also respect the human rights of others.

† The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) †
A Summarized List below

Right to Equality Freedom from Discrimination Right to Life, Liberty, Personal Security Freedom from Slavery Freedom from Torture and Degrading Treatment Right to Recognition as a Person before the Law Right to Equality before the Law Right to Remedy by Competent Tribunal Freedom from Arbitrary Arrest and Exile Right to Fair Public Hearing Right to be Considered Innocent until Proven Guilty Freedom from Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, and Correspondence Right to Free Movement in and out of the Country Right to Asylum in other Countries from Persecution Right to a Nationality and the Freedom to Change It

Freedom to Marriage and Family Right to Own Property Freedom of Belief and Religion Freedom of Opinion and Information Right of Peaceful Assembly and Association Right to Participate in Government and in Free Elections Right to Social Security Right to Desirable Work and to Join Trade Unions Right to Rest and Leisure Right to Adequate Living Standard Right to Education Right to Participate in the Cultural Life of Community Right to a Social Order that Articulates this Document Community Duties Essential to Free and Full Development Free from State and Personal Interference in the Above Rights

“The Universal Declaration of Human Rights marked a crucial turning point in human history as the first international agreement setting out freedoms, rights and entitlements for all humanity to claim. It affirmed that the force of shared ideas and a common vision of respectful and peaceful coexistence can prevail over brutality, hatred and destruction. Since then, the world may have changed a great deal, but the recognition of our inherent kinship in rights, of our common claim to a life of dignity, of our right to count and be counted irrespective of ancestry, gender and colour, status and religion applies to today’s realities as much as it did in 1948.” - Navanethem Pilay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (speaking about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)

† Image of Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt holding the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a poster in English, accessed on 16 October 2013 from the website of the United Nations Audiovisual Library of International Law, located at http://www.un.org/law/avl.

“Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places, close to home – so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any maps of the world. Yet they are the world of the individual person; the neighborhood he lives in; the school or college he attends; the factory, farm, or office where he works. Such are the places where every man, woman, and child seeks equal justice, equal opportunity, equal dignity without discrimination. Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere. Without concerted citizen action to uphold them close to home, we shall look in vain for progress in the larger world.” - Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, “In Our Hands” (1958 speech delivered on the tenth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)

* from the website of the United Nations - Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)