UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was declared by the General Assembly of the United Nations in Paris on December 10, 1948. The document is a milestone in the history of the struggle for human rights, establishing a universal moral standard for all peoples and nations. Particularly noteworthy is its inclusion of “social and economic rights,” affirming rights to adequate food, clothing, and housing; and to health care and education.
Here are selections from the text:
Article 1
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.
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.
Article 7
All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the 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.
Article 11
Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty
Article 18
Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.
Article 19
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression.
Article 20
Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
Article 21
Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.
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 his dignity and the free development of his personality.
Article 23
Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.
Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.
Article 25
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.
Article 26
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.
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.
Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.
The full text of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights can be found here.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was declared by the General Assembly of the United Nations in Paris on December 10, 1948. The document is a milestone in the history of the struggle for human rights, establishing a universal moral standard for all peoples and nations. Particularly noteworthy is its inclusion of “social and economic rights,” affirming rights to adequate food, clothing, and housing; and to health care and education.
Here are selections from the text:
Article 1
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.
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.
Article 7
All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the 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.
Article 11
Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty
Article 18
Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.
Article 19
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression.
Article 20
Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
Article 21
Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.
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 his dignity and the free development of his personality.
Article 23
Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.
Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.
Article 25
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.
Article 26
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.
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.
Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.
The full text of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights can be found here.