The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

60th Anniversary

• “The campaign reminds us that in a world still reeling from the horrors of the Second World War, the Declaration was the first global statement of what we now take for granted – the inherent dignity and equality of all human beings.”

• Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

A Year-long campaign

• On 10th December 2007, the Secretary-General launched a campaign in which all parts of the UN family took part up to the 60th birthday of the UDHR in 2008

• UN organizations around the globe were using the year to focus on helping people to learn about their human rights

• “Dignity and justice for all of us”

UDHR – Basic Information

• Declaration adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 10th December 1948

• The most translated document in the world• It arose directly from the experience of the

WWII• It represents the first global expression of

rights to which all human beings are entitled• It consists of 30 articles

Adoption

• The Universal Declaration was adopted by the General Assembly by a vote of 48 in favor, 0 against, and 8 abstentions

• The abstentions were all the Soviet bloc states including Czechoslovakia

International Human Rights Day

• The adoption is a significant international commemoration marked each year on 10th December

• Observed by individuals, religious groups, human rights organizations, parliaments, governments and the United Nations

• Decadal commemorations accompanied by campaigns to promote awareness of human rights

Significance

• Even though not formally legally binding, the Declaration has been adopted in or influenced most national constitutions since 1948

Reaction

• Praise – the Declaration has received praise from a number of notable people e.g. Eleanor Roosevelt – “it may well become the international Magna Carta of all men everywhere. Pope John Paul II – “one of the highest expressions of the human conscience of our time”

Criticism

• Some Islamic countries have criticized the Declaration for its failure to take into account the cultural and religious context of these countries

• In 1982 Iranian representative to the UN said the UDHR was a “secular understanding of the Judeo-Christian tradition”, which could not be implemented by Muslims