75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Subject :IR

Section: Int Body

Context:75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

More about the news:

On December 10, 2023, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) celebrated its 75th anniversary.
The UDHR stands as a pivotal document, safeguarding human rights and fundamental freedoms for every individual.

What is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a concise document comprising a preamble and 30 articles outlining fundamental rights and freedoms.
Article 1 emphasizes the inherent freedom and equality of all human beings, while Article 2 asserts that everyone is entitled to these rights without discrimination.
The declaration further addresses the rights to life, liberty, and security of person, prohibiting slavery, torture, and degrading treatment.
It emphasizes equality before the law, the right to a fair trial, and the entitlement to seek asylum from persecution in other countries.
The UDHR also safeguards freedom of religion, opinion, expression, peaceful assembly, and the right to education.
The UDHR, together with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and its two Optional Protocols, and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights(ICESCR), form the so – called International Bill of Human Rights.
It is not a legally binding treaty

Why and how was it drawn up:

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights emerged from the collective determination of political leaders, driven by the “never again” sentiment following two world wars and the Holocaust.
Complementing the U.N. Charter, the foundational document of the United Nations, the UDHR was conceived as a “road map” to secure the rights of every individual.
Eleanor Roosevelt, widow of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, chaired the drafting committee,composed of members from eight countries, selected for geographical representation.
With the participation of over 50 U.N. member countries, the General Assembly approved the declaration on Dec. 10, 1948, with unanimous support except for eight abstentions.
Despite the prevalence of colonial rule at that time, the drafting process, according to Amnesty International, avoided dominance by powerful nations.
Smaller nations played a strategic role, ensuring the final text pledged human rights for all, and female delegates championed equal rights for men and women.

What did it achieve:

While not legally binding as a treaty, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) has profoundly influenced many countries’ legal frameworks, serving as the foundation for international human rights law.
It has inspired over 70 global and regional human rights treaties and played a pivotal role in movements such as decolonization,anti-apartheid, and fights against gender discrimination, LGBTQ+ rights, and racism.
The Vienna Declaration of 1993 is built upon the principles of the 1948 declaration.