Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Edits

Eleanor Roosevelt first drafted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which
was later picked up by the United Nations General Assembly on December 10 th
1948. I have expanded upon the rights given in this Declaration by broadening
some of the word choices made in the original draft. This edited version was
revised on Sep. 28th, 2018 as a result of the original draft of the Declaration not
incorporating modern terminology, and current social reform.

Preamble

• Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and

inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of
freedom, justice and peace in the world,
• Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in
barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the
advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech
and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the
highest aspiration of the common people,
• Whereas it is essential, if humanity is not to be compelled to have
recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that
human rights should be protected by the rule of law,
• Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations
between nations,
• Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed
their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the
human person and in the equal rights of human beings and have
determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in
larger freedom,
• Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in
cooperation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for
and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms,
• Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the
greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge,
Now, therefore,
The General Assembly,
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 peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.

Article I

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are
endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a
spirit of fellowship.

Article 2

Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration,
without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, sexuality, gender,
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 limitation of sovereignty.

Article 3

Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

Article 4

No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be
prohibited in all their forms.

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 entitled without any discrimination to equal
protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any
discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such
discrimination.
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 or 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 their rights and obligations and of
any criminal charge against them.

Article 11

1. Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed

innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which they
has had all the guarantees necessary for his defense.
2. No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or
omission which did not constitute a penal offence, under national or
international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier
penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal
offence was committed.

Article 12

No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with their privacy, family,

home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon their honor and reputation.
Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or
attacks.

Article 13

1. Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the
borders of each State.
2. Everyone has the right to leave any country, including their own, and to
return to their country.

Article 14

Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from
persecution.
Article 15

1. Everyone has the right to a nationality.

2. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of their nationality nor denied the right
to change their nationality.

Article 16

1. Human beings of full age, without any limitation due to race, sex,
sexuality, gender, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to
found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during
marriage and at its dissolution.
2. Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the
intending spouses.
3. The family is entitled to protection by society and the State.

Article 17

1. Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with
others.
2. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of their property.

Article 18

Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right
includes freedom to change their religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or
in community with others and in public or private, to manifest their religion or
belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

Article 19

Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes
freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart
information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

Article 20

1. Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.

2. No one may be compelled to belong to an association.
Article 21

1. Everyone has the right to take part in the government of their country,
directly or through freely chosen representatives.
2. Everyone has the right to equal access to public service in their country.
3. The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government;
this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall
be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by
equivalent free voting procedures.

Article 22

Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled
to realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in
accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic,
social and cultural rights indispensable for their dignity and the free development
of their personality.

Article 23

1. Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and
favorable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.
2. Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal
work.
3. Everyone who works has the right to just and favorable remuneration
ensuring for them self and their family an existence worthy of human
dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social
protection.
4. Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of
their interests.

Article 24

Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of
working hours and periodic holidays with pay.

Article 25

1. Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and
well-being of himself and of their family, including food, clothing, housing
and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security
in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or
other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.
 2. Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All
children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social
protection.

Article 26

1. Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the
elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be
compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made
generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all
on the basis of merit.
2. Education shall be directed to the full development of the human
personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and
fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and
friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further
the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.
3. Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be
given to their children.

Article 27

1. Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the
community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and
its benefits.

2. Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests
resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which they are
the author.

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

1. Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full
development of their personality is possible.
2. In the exercise of their rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only
to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of
securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others
and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the
general welfare in a democratic society.
3. These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the
purposes and principles of the United Nations.
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.