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In 1948, the United Nation announced the first Universal Declaration of Human Rights that outlines the basic principles of human rights.

This has been the foundation of human rights protections up until today.

This article aims to provide a deeper understanding about the U.N. declarations of human rights.

UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Below is the list of statements in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that have been announced by the U.N.:

• All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.
• Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms 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.
• Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of a person.
• No one shall be held in slavery or servitude.
• Everyone has the right to education.
• No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
• Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person and an effective remedy by the constitution or by law.
• Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being.
• No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.
• Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, and to be presumed innocent until proven guilty according to law.
• No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence.
• No one shall be attacked upon his honor and reputation, furthermore shall be protected by the law against such interference or attacks.
• Everyone has the right to freedom of movement, to seek and to enjoy in other countries, and to a nationality.
• Everyone has the right to marry, to found a family, and to own property.
• Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; furthermore, the right to freedom of opinion and expression
• Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
• Everyone has the right to take part in the government with equal access to public service in his country.
• Everyone has the right to social security.
• Everyone has the right to work and has the right to equal pay for equal work. Also, the right to form and to join trade unions.
• Everyone has the right to rest and leisure.

The above 30 articles included in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights has been the foundation for the human rights that we have today.

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

Other declarations of human rights by the U.N.

The U.N. has announced several other declarations of human rights that are not included in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

These declarations of human rights include:

• Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
• Declaration on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
• Declaration of the Rights of the Child

Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

The U.N. adopted the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in 2007.

The purpose of this declaration is to outlaw discrimination against indigenous peoples.

Article 1 states:

ndigenous peoples have the right to the full enjoyment, as a collective or as individuals, of all human rights and fundamental freedoms as recognized in the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and international human rights law.
Reference：”United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples｜the United Nations”

The Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People was adopted by a majority of 143 states in favor, 4 states against, and 11 abstentions.

The following States were against the declaration:

• Australia
• Canada
• New Zealand
• The United States

Needless to say, many indigenous people live in these states.

The Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is not legally binding.

Declaration on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

The Declaration on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was adopted by the U.N. general assembly in 1975.

The following 13 articles were declared as the Declaration on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities:

• “Persons with disabilities” do not necessarily have to be congenital but those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments.
• This right is addressed for all people with disabilities: “Everyone is entitled to all the rights without discrimination on the basis of race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic, indigenous or social origin, property, birth, age or other status”. This applies to oneself and their family members.
• The right to respect for inherent dignity.
• The same rights for civil and political equality.
• The right to take appropriate measures for living independently.
• The right to take any medical, psychological, or functional treatment as necessary.
• The right of economic and social safety including the right of employment.
• The right of considering special needs for any processes of economic and social planning.
• The right to live with his/her family or foster family and the right to participate in any social, creative, or recreational activities.
• The right to protect against any exploitation, discrimination, or abuse.
• The right to ensure access to qualified legal assistance.
• The right to consult their concern to the organization of people with disabilities.
• The right to be fully informed about the declaration of rights.

The purpose of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is to be used as the mutual foundation and guideline to protect their rights.

It also calls for national and international actions to ensure the rights of persons with disabilities.

Domestic and International movement is also requested to secure the rights of persons with disabilities.The “Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities” was adopted based on the Declaration on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2007.

Declaration of the Rights of the Child

Declaration of the Rights of the Child

Later, the Declaration of the Rights of the Child (1924) was revised and extended by the U.N. in 1959.

It is clear that the Declaration of the Rights of the Child is influenced by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Such as the statement below:

States Parties shall respect and ensure the rights set forth in the present Convention to each child within their jurisdiction without discrimination of any kind, irrespective of the child’s or his or her parent’s or legal guardian’s race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, property, disability, birth or other status.

Reference：”Declaration of the Rights of the Child,｜Humanium”

This is from article 1 of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child stating that the child does not get discriminated against under any circumstances.

The declaration is characterized by clearly stating that no one becomes the target of discrimination even if he or she is a child.

Also in 1989, the Convention on the Rights of the Child was established based on the Declaration of the Rights of the Child.

All 196 U.N. member states have agreed to this convention except for the United States as of 2021.

The U.N. Universal Declaration of Human Rights and its impact

The U.N. Universal Declaration of Human Rights have influenced in the following three ways:

• Ban of discrimination
• Implementation of equal society
• Establishing a code of conduct

Ban of discrimination

The U.N. declarations of human rights claims the ban of discrimination.

In fact, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is the first to state about discrimination.

Later, the ban of discrimination was also stated in the “Declaration of the Rights of the Child” and the “Declaration on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities”

The thorough statement of banning discrimination is influencing a lot of people.

In some contexts, the declarations encourage specific instructions to ratifiers.

Furthermore, the members of the Declaration on the Rights of People with Disabilities are requesting for domestic action.

Implementation of equal society

The purpose of the U.N. declarations of human rights is to establish an equal society for all.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights has created a common belief toward international human rights.

Other declarations of human rights have also shown awareness of human rights for relevant people.

In this manner, they are trying to eliminate the inequality of society through the U.N. declarations of human rights.

Establishing a code of conduct

The U.N. declarations of human rights are outlining the standard of behavior.

Unlike the convention and the code of human rights, most of the declarations of human rights are not legally binding.

Which is why it cannot be enforced to the nation or individuals.

On the other hand, treaties are made based on the declarations of human rights.

It can be said that people may be guided to a stronger code of conduct through these movements.

Q&A: The U.N. declarations of human rights

What is the purpose of the U.N.?

The organization’s purpose and principles are outlined in the U.N. Charter. According to the document, the United Nations’ four main purposes are to:

• Maintain international peace and security;
• Develop friendly relations among nations;
• Achieve international cooperation in solving international problems;
• Be a center for harmonizing the actions of nations in the attainment of these common ends.

The purpose of the U.N. is to maintain international peace.

Also, it is stated that the U.N. plays a leading role to protect individual human rights.

Reference：”Our Work｜the United Nations”

What are the U.N. declarations of human rights?

The U.N. declarations of human rights are collectively known as the declaration of human rights that is adopted by the U.N.

The U.N. has adopted many declarations of human rights including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

They also establish the convention of human rights.

What is the challenge of the U.N. declarations of human rights?

The U.N. is often questioned about the process of decision-making.

The U.N. is an organization consisting of 5 permanent members and 10 non-permanent members. The non-permanent members serve a two-year term that are chosen by the general assembly.

The permanent members have no term and have the right of veto.

When one of the permanent members uses the veto power, new rights will not be adopted even if the majority agrees.

That is why the decision-making process is sometimes raised as a challenge for the U.N..

Reference：”Voting System｜United Nations Security Council”

Who is a child according to the Declaration of the Human Rights of the Child?

According to the U.N., a “child” means persons 18 years old or under.

Nonetheless when it comes to human rights, a child or not, all persons are equally entitled to human rights.

Reference：”Frequently asked questions on the Convention on the Rights of the Child｜UNICEF”

Our duty to protect human rights

We should be more mindful of human rights based on the U.N. declarations of human rights.

To protect human rights is our obligation and not our rights.

Therefore, we should be more self-aware of human rights based on the U.N. declarations of human rights.