Universal Declaration of Human Rights

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (also UDHR) is a declaration adopted by the United Nations General Assembly(A/RES/217, December 101948), outlining a view on basic human rights. John Peters Humphreyof Canadawas its principal drafter, aided by Eleanor Rooseveltof the United States, René Cassinof France, Charles Malik of Lebanon, and P. C. Changof China, among others. The document is laid out in the familiar civil law tradition, including a preamble followed by 30 articles. It was passed by the General Assembly without a negative vote, but eight countries, including the entire Soviet bloc and Saudi Arabia chose to abstain from the voting.

While it is not a legally binding document, it served as the foundation for the original two legally-binding UN human rights Covenants, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights. It continues to be widely cited by academics, advocates, and constitutional courts. International lawyers often debate which of its provisions can be said to represent customaryinternational law. Opinions vary widely on this question, from very few provisions to the entire declaration.

The Guinness Book of Records(GBR) describes the UDHR as the "Most Translated Document" in the world, translated as of 2004 into 321 languages and dialects. ¹ Other works are more translated, however; for example, the Bibleis also described in the GBR as "translated into 2,233 languages and dialects." ² Some of the translations available on the UNHCHRwebsite contain unrectified mistakes.

Eleanor Roosevelt referred to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as "a Magna Cartafor all mankind".

References in Entertainment

The rock band U2projected the UDHR onto an enormous screen after performing their song "Running to Stand Still" during their Vertigo 2005 world tour concerts. Their presentation also included individuals from around the world speaking selected articles of the UDHR.

Notes

Note 1: See UDHR translation citationunder Arts and Media - Books & Magazinesat the Guinness World Records website, http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/Retrieved September 13, 2005.

Note 2: See Bible translation citationunder Arts and Media - Books & Magazinesat the Guinness World Records website, http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/Retrieved September 13, 2005.

See also

• Magna Carta, England, 1215
• English Bill of Rights, 1689
• Virginia Declaration of Rights, June 1776
• United States Declaration of Independence, July 1776
• United States Bill of Rights, completed in 1789, approved in 1791
• Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, 1789
• Constitution of the Soviet Union, first 1918
• Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, 1982
• Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1990

Further reading

• Johannes Morsink, "The Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Origins, Drafting & Intent" (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1999).

External links

• Official UDHR Home Page
• Questions and answers about the Universal Declaration
• Complete text of the Universal Declarationast:Declaración Universal de los Derechos Humanos

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It uses material from the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal+Declaration+of+Human+Rights Wikipedia article Universal Declaration of Human Rights.