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: Never In Our Names

60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

By possum

On December 10, 1948, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  The first articles follow.  The full text may be found here.

Article 1:  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 brotherhood.

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, 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 his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.

Today we celebrate 60 years since the passage of this declaration.  What a world was envisioned?  Just think what a wonder we'd be living today if the principles were guiding factors for every nation around the globe.

Peace.

Full post as published by Never In Our Names on December 10, 2008 (boomark / email).