The UDHR, more elaborately referred to as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, remains a global agreement composed of 30 articles. Furthermore, each of these articles takes care of various aspects regarding the rights of being a human. UDHR promotes equality among citizens; however, it is not a strict law. Rather than that, it is more involved in helping nations maintain a sense of equality and justice for their people.
History of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
1945 was the year when mankind suffered from the worst atrocities ever known. So, there was a requirement for a community that knew how to emphasize the importance of the Declaration of Human Rights. For this reason, in 1947, the process of making a draft for the UDHR (Universal Declaration of Human Rights) was activated by honorable people of that time.
Among such people, the First Lady of the United States, Eleanor Roosevelt, chaired the entire commission. She played a critical role in shaping this declaration into what it is now and invited other respected members from various countries to participate in this incredible moment.
December 10, 1948, was a historic time when various countries came together to put an end to the atrocities showered upon mankind. In Paris, the United Nations General Assembly adopted UDHR and declared the significance of this agreement to the world.
Since December 10 was the day UDHR was globally adopted, it is celebrated as International Human Rights Day. This helps to raise awareness among people about the significance of human rights every year.
It is important to remember that UDHR is not bound by the law rather it serves a foundational role in distinct international treaties and conventions. Nations use UDHR to develop their own legal systems favoring human rights.
Articles Of UDHR And Their Significance
There are a total of 30 articles addressing issues regarding human rights from every corner. Every article holds its significance in providing protection and promotion of equality and dignity.
Article 1 – Equality rights
The first article addresses the issue of equality and openly declares that all human beings are born free and possess the same rights and dignity. Article 1 serves as a foundation for the rest of UDHR articles.
Article 2 – Say no to discrimination
There is no discrimination of race, sex, religion, or language of any sort under the umbrella of UDHR.
Article 3 – Security rights
All human beings without discrimination have the right to liberty, security, and life. Article 3 protects humans from random violence and detention.
Article 4 – End to Slavery
Slave trends and culture should be immediately stopped, and a sense of freedom should be promoted.
Article 5 – Torture and Inhuman Treatment Prohibition
Inhuman or degrading treatment of human beings was highly condemned, protecting humans from torture or cruel practices.
Article 6 – Individual identity before the law
The law is equal for every human as they possess legal recognition everywhere as a person.
Article 7 – Legal equality
The law shall protect every human equally in the face of injustice and crime.
Article 8 – Access to justice
Each individual has the right to receive effective remedy by competent tribunals, ensuring that justice is well served.
Article 9 – No random arrests or exile
This article protects individuals from random or arbitrary arrests, exile, and detention.
Article 10 – Fair public hearing
To provide equal justice, every individual possesses the right to a fair public hearing that guarantees legal proceedings.
Articles 11 – 15
Basic yet crucial rights, including the right to be considered innocent until proven otherwise, protection of privacy, permission to move freely within the boundaries of the state, seeking refuge and asylum in other countries, and the right to possess a nationality, are all discussed in Article 11 through Article 15.
Article 16 – 20
The basic rights of marriage, owning property, possessing a conscience and religion, and expression of thoughts are given to all human beings on earth. Anyone can practice peaceful assembly and association as well.
Article 21 – 30
All humans have the right to proper access to healthcare, a fair work environment, rest, and a good standard of living. Other rights like education, cultural participation, peace, responsibilities to society, and the right to vote should also be given equally. The last 10 articles put an emphasis on respecting rights and treating citizens well without discrimination.
Accomplishments of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Considering how carefully the UDHR was designed, it is evident that the accomplishments would also be significant. The UDHR has played a key role in solving several national and international disputes and spreading awareness among the citizens of Earth. Some of the most significant achievements of the UDHR are given here.
Setting a global standard for human rights
You can say that the UDHR served as a guideline for human rights as it listed the most basic and crucial rights and freedoms that each individual deserves in his/her life. This standard was equally significant for every nation when they were discussing treaties or solving disputes. So, being a critical factor in making laws about human rights was a prominent achievement of UDHR.
Inspiration for later agreements
Be it a dispute within political parties or between different nations, the UDHR has inspired decision-makers to put human rights first while coming to a conclusion. Such agreements have made nations responsible for protecting human rights which has resulted in fair dealing and the promotion of safety and security among citizens.
Emphasizing human dignity
During WW2, human dignity was highly neglected, which resulted in humiliation for several people. So, the UDHR addressed this issue and signified the need to make laws protecting human dignity. After the adoption of UDHR in 1948, governments and organizations started respecting human dignity, making it a proud achievement of UDHR.
How is UDHR Relevant in 2023
The world might not be facing an active war in 2023. However, human rights are still violated left and right. So, the UDHR is serving its foundational role as a moral compass. It constantly reminds people how everyone deserves to be treated with respect, empathy, and compassion.
The UDHR has declared that governments and institutions will be held accountable in case of breaching any human right that is protected by the law. Since the world is consistently growing, nations exchange productions with each other and make several agreements. The UDHR has to be a fundamental part of such agreements so that human rights are never violated. In this way, the UDHR ensures that the disputes will never reach the point of war.
The Bottom Line On UDHR And Its Significance
The need for UDHR was evident back in 1945; however, UDHR has stood the test of time and is used even in 2023 for the way it emphasizes human rights. The UDHR maintains its unquestionable importance as an inspiration for nations to come, not just as a legal reference but as a moral compass.
The document outlines everything, describing the basic rights and freedoms fundamental to human life. Regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, culture, and language, any person is welcomed and considered equal under the UDHR.
As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, issues like cybercrime, discrimination, and inequality are at an all-time high. For this reason, as a guide in making decisions and solving disputes among nations, the UDHR needs to be utilized.
