On December 10, 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Paris. It aims to protect every human from exploitation and injustice. Article 1 says that "all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights." However, the declaration is not legally binding.
Article 2 says that every human being is entitled to all rights and freedoms set forth in the declaration "without distinction of race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status." But mankind is far from fulfilling that.
"Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person." (3) "No one shall be held in slavery or servitude." (4) "No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment." (5) In its annual report 2012, Amnesty International states that "people were tortured or otherwise ill-treated in at least 101 countries."
"Every human being has the right to a fair hearing and legal protection" (6, 8, 10, 12). "Everyone is presumed innocent until proved guilty. (11) "All are equal before the law" (7) and "no one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile". (9) However, according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, 44 countries do not honor those rights.
"Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each State. Everyone has the right to leave any country (13)." "Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution." (14) "Everyone has the right to a nationality." (15) The UN Refugee Agency estimates that there are almost 44 million refugees worldwide.
Men and women of full age have equal rights before, in and after a marriage. A marriage "shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses. The family is entitled to protection by society and the State." (16) There are no precise statistics about forced marriages, but each year, millions of women and girls are affected.
"Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property." (17) Worldwide, people are driven from their land because they have no documents to prove ownership. Whether for urban development, mining, agriculture or even the Soccer World Cup in Brazil, often people do not receive any compensation for losing their land.
"Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion." (18) "Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression." (19) "Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association." (20) Worldwide, 156 journalists are in jail, according to the organization Reporters Without Borders.
"Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives." (21) There is "a right to social security" and everyone is entitled to "economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity." (22) It was not until 1967 that Australian Aborigines were allowed to vote. Women in Kuwait have been entitled to vote only since 2005.
"Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just conditions of work. Everyone has the right to equal pay for equal work. Everyone who works has the right to just and favorable remuneration" to ensure an existence in dignity. (23) "Everyone has the right to rest and leisure." (24) According to the World Bank, 200 million people are currently without a job.
"Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services." "Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance." (25) Worldwide, one out of seven is starving - overall, more than 900 million people are affected.
"Everyone has the right to education." Elementary schools must be compulsory and free of charge. "Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights." (26) One out of five Europeans has problems reading and writing, according to a European Commission report. Worldwide, 775 million people are illiterate.
"Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement." Every author of "any scientific, literary or artistic production" is protected by law. Nowadays, the digital distribution of many works is highly controversial. Many authors see their rights violated.
"Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms can be fully realized." (28) "Everyone has duties to the community." (29) No State, group or person has a right to participate in activities aimed at the destruction any of the human rights in the Declaration. (30) In 2011, people in 91 countries protested against human rights abuses.
Every human being has rights that are granted to him or her by birth. On December 10, 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It applies to all member states.
Every human being has rights that are granted to him or her by birth. On December 10, 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It applies to all member states.
