Monday, November 08, 2010

What's The Universal Declaration Of Human Rights?

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.
 If you peruse international newscasts or international social justice blogs, you will from time to time hear people make references not only to the Yogyakarta Principles, but to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

So what's the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?   It's a visionary document that was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 10, 1948.


The anniversary of its adoption is celebrated at UN headquarters every December 10 as Human Rights Day..

It's a document that all UN member nations pledge to uphold, but some nations do better jobs of it than others in incorporating those principles into the laws that they govern their nations by  

And for you folks living in the States, you have another insight into why the conservafool movement has a bitterly intense hatred for the United Nations.
  
Well, hopefully one day we'll see a world in which these principles enshrined in this document are rigorously adhered to by all nations on this planet.
 
I'll close this post out with the Preamble from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

***

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 man 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 men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,

Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in co-operation 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.





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