UniversalDeclaration ofHuman Rights

by Jason Belland

History of Human Rights

• Babylonian Code of Hammurabi• British Magna Carta• French Declaration of the Rights of Man• U.S. Bill of Rights

Events Preceding UDHR

• World War I

• League of Nations

• FDR’s “New Deal” and “Four Freedoms”

• World War II

• Nuremberg and Tokyo Tribunals

• United Nations

Creation of UDHR

1946: Commission of Human Rights formed

1947: Drafting of declaration begins

1948: Lengthy and often divisive deliberations

10 December 1948:

UN General Assembly adopts UDHR

The General Assembly Vote

The 8 Abstentions

Countries Points of Contention

Soviet Bloc Limited sovereignty of nations

Saudi Arabia Freedom to change religion; gender and marriage rights

South Africa Racial equality

Eleanor Roosevelt

• Delegate to UN General Assembly 1945-1952

• Chairperson of Human Rights Commission

UDHR Articles: Examples

Article 5: Freedom from Torture

Article 25:

Right to Health Care

InternationalCovenant on Civil

and Political Rights(ICCPR)

InternationalCovenant on Economic,

Social, and Cultural Rights(ICESCR)

UniversalDeclaration ofHuman Rights

(UDHR)

International Bill of Rights

International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)

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37

7

not signedsigned but not ratifiedratified

UDHR Preamble

“Every individual . . . shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms . . . “

http://www.udhr.org

Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights

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0

5

10

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20

25

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ICESCR USConstitution

Components