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Basic human rights have been set to maintain world peace and freedom in order to protect human dignity, and exists as one of the guidelines for our world’s essential ethical standards and common understanding.

This article will introduce the fundamental aspects of human rights, as well as mention the historical and cultural backgrounds in which they were set.

*December 10th is universally designated as “Human Rights Day”, and is celebrated annually through commemorative events held internationally.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights consists of 30 articles.

This declaration consists of all the basic human rights that exist today.

The abbreviated 30 articles are as follows:

• Article 1: All human beings are born free and equal in dignity
• Article 2: All human beings are entitled to all rights and freedoms set forth in this declaration without distinction of any kind, such as race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.
• Article 3: Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.
• Article 4: No one shall be held in slavery or servitude.
• Article 5: No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
• Article 6: Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.
• Article 7: All are equal before the law and are entitles without any discrimination to equal protection of the law.
• Article 8: Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution of by law
• Article 9: No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention, or exile.
• Article 10: Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.
• Article 11: Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty.
• Article 12: No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honor and reputation.
• Article 14: Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.
• Article 15: Everyone has the right to nationality.
• Article 16: Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality, or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family.
• Article 17: Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in associate with others.
• Article 18: Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion.
• Article 19: Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression.
• Article 20: Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
• Article 21: Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.
• Article 22: Right to Social Security.
• Article 23: Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favorable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.
• Article 24: Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.
• Article 25: Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment and sickness.
• Article 26: Right to Education.
• Article 28: Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in this declaration can be fully realized.
• Article 29: Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality possible.
• Article 30: Nothing in this declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.

Reference: “Universal Declaration of Human Rights｜the United Nations”

Preamble

The full text of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights discloses its purpose as follows:

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 people of territories under their jurisdiction. ”
Reference：”Universal Declaration of Human Rights｜the United Nations”

Article 2

Article 2 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights sets forth the abolition of discrimination.

As previously mentioned, the basic human rights articulated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaims that people have the right not to be discriminated against.

In such way, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights has an immense impact on the freedom from discrimination.

Article 9

Article 9 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that any arbitrary detention is forbidden, having a significant effect on human rights.

Article 20

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights characterizes article 20 as the right to peaceful assembly and association.

Including areas such as religion, this article gives people the freedom to gather and collectively voice their opinions without disturbance. Furthermore, the fact that this has been clearly expressed as part of the 30 articles has a valuable impact.

On the other hand, there have been cases in the past in which freedom of association has been the root of issues that have led to conflict.

Article 23

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights describes article 23 as the right to work.

In incorporating this article to the official declaration, it spread awareness of labor movements and people’s knowledge of the right to work. Moreover, it has simultaneously created the need to guarantee unemployment benefits.

An important factor of article 23 lies in the national and governmental provision of assurance, as an integral part of the right to work.

The Evolution of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

World War II had a substantial influence on the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The war had left an immense number of soldiers killed in action and citizens as secondary victims.

The world, having experienced these tragic casualties, established the United Nations.

The United Nations aimed to prevent another such colossal adversity.

Hence, in 1946, the “Declaration on Basic Human Rights and Freedom” was born.

The “Declaration on Basic Human Rights and Freedom” became a powerful addition to the Charter of the United Nations.

After the birth of the “Declaration on Basic Human Rights and Freedom”, came the authorization of the committee for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The Human Rights Commission consisted of members from a diversified background.

At the time of their introduction, participants ranged from 18 different countries as an attempt to eliminate any inequality between nations.

Later, in 1948, the first version of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was submitted.

It was on December 10th, 1948 that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was formally adopted.

Reference：”Universal Declaration of Human Rights｜the United Nations”

Impact of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

The 3 major impacts of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights are as follows:

• Changes in values towards slave labor.
• Freedom from discrimination.

Changes in values towards slave labor

Article 4 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, states that no person may have the authority to make others a slave, and vice versa.

The inclusion of freedom from slavery in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights substantially altered the views and values on this topic that people used to have.

Additionally, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights acted as the foundation for the enactment of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime.

The United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime is an international law in relation to human trafficking and forced slavery.

The change in values with respect to slavery was a testament to the success of the National Declaration of Human Rights.

Reference：”Universal Declaration of Human Rights｜the United Nations”

Freedom from Discrimination

Article 2 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that:

“Everyone is entitled to all the freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitations of sovereignty.”
Reference：「Universal Declaration of Human Rights｜the United Nations”

In summation, it strongly prohibits any form of discrimination.

Sovereignty is defined in the Declaration to belong to individuals, not to external parties such as the state.

Sovereignty is defined in the Declaration to belong to individuals, not to external parties such as the state.

The progression of freedom from discrimination had not only taken place within the United Nations, but also in the awareness and understanding of the people.

Change in awareness and views on labor

In the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, articles 22 to 25 are on the topic of labor.

Labor is largely the right to achieve economic, social and cultural rights.

It also declares the right for people to work, in combination with the guarantee if unemployed.

It was in this way that people began to experience changes in awareness and views on labor.

What is the International Bill of Human Rights?

Reference：”Universal Declaration of Human Rights｜the United Nations”

Q&A: Universal Declaration of Human Rights

What is the International Bill of Human Rights?

The International Bill of Human Rights is an international law based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a declaration and is not legally binding, whereas on the other hand, the International Bill of Human Rights is.

When the International Bill of Human Rights has been violated, it has been made possible to impose sanctions on people and countries.

Reference: “The International Bill of Human Rights｜OHCHR”

When was the Universal Declaration of Human Rights declared?

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was officially approved on December 10th, 1948, just after the draft of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was proposed in September of the same year.

Reference: “Universal Declaration of Human Rights｜the United Nations”

Does the Universal Declaration of Human Rights cover everything related to human rights?

It is difficult to say with certainty that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights covers all the aspects in relation to human rights.

Recently, there has been a surge in movements to justify poverty as a human rights violation, and the fact that there is currently no mention of poverty in the Declaration has been an issue raised by alerted members.

Reference: “Freedom from poverty is a human right and not a matter of compassion, say UN leaders｜the United Nations”

What is the purpose of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?

The preamble to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirms that the member states respect the human rights counted in the Declaration, and will act accordingly to honor them.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights elaborates on the fundamental concept of human rights.

With consideration to the articles in the Declaration and what they stand for as a part of the committee, the members of the Human Rights Commission aim to spread awareness of human rights.

In conclusion, it can be said that the purpose of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is to encourage member states and countries to be proactive, with respect to finding a solution to imposed human rights issues.

Reference: “Universal Declaration of Human Rights｜the United Nations”

Important Takeaways

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was declared with foundation in experiencing World War II.

It also illustrates basic human rights.

Therefore, understanding the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is indispensable in studying and learning about human rights.