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The '''Universal Declaration of Human Rights''' ('''UDHR''') is an international document adopted by the [[United Nations General Assembly]] that enshrines the [[Human rights|rights and freedoms of all human beings]]. Drafted by a UN [[Drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights|committee]] chaired by [[Eleanor Roosevelt]], it was accepted by the General Assembly as [[United Nations General Assembly Resolution 217|Resolution 217]] during [[Third session of the United Nations General Assembly|its third session]] on 10 December 1948 at the [[Palais de Chaillot]] in Paris, France.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Human Rights Law|url=https://www.un.org/en/sections/universal-declaration/human-rights-law/index.html|access-date=20 August 2020|website=United Nations|language=en |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200813084117/https://www.un.org/en/sections/universal-declaration/human-rights-law/index.html |archive-date= Aug 13, 2020 }}</ref> Of the 58 members of the [[United Nations]] at the time, 48 voted in favour, none against, eight [[abstentions|abstained]], and two did not vote.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://unbisnet.un.org:8080/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=14O243550E15G.60956&profile=voting&uri=full=3100023~!909326~!676&ri=1&aspect=power&menu=search&source=~!horizon|title=A/RES/217(III)|publisher=UNBISNET|access-date=24 May 2015|archive-date=21 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190121232151/http://unbisnet.un.org:8080/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=14O243550E15G.60956&profile=voting&uri=full=3100023~!909326~!676&ri=1&aspect=power&menu=search&source=~!horizon|url-status=dead}}</ref>
A foundational text in the [[History of human rights|history of human and civil rights]], the Declaration consists of 30 articles detailing an individual's "basic [[rights]] and fundamental freedoms" and affirming their universal character as inherent, inalienable, and applicable to all human beings.<ref name=":0" /> Adopted as a "common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations", the UDHR commits nations to recognize all humans as being "born free and equal in dignity and rights" regardless of "nationality, place of residence, sex, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, language, or any other status".<ref>[https://www.un.org/en/udhrbook/pdf/udhr_booklet_en_web.pdf UDHR Booklet], Art. 2.</ref>
The Declaration is considered a milestone document for its universalist language, which makes no reference to a particular culture, political system, or religion.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Universal Declaration of Human Rights|url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/what-we-do/universal-declaration-of-human-rights/|access-date=20 August 2020|newspaper=Amnesty International|language=en}}</ref><ref name="blogs.lse.ac.uk">{{Cite web|date=10 December 2012|title=Human Rights: The Universal Declaration vs The Cairo Declaration|url=https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/mec/2012/12/10/1569/|access-date=20 August 2020|website=Middle East Centre}}</ref> It directly inspired the development of [[international human rights law]], and was the first step in the formulation of the [[International Bill of Human Rights]], which was completed in 1966 and came into force in 1976. Although [[Non-binding resolution|not legally binding]], the contents of the UDHR have been elaborated and incorporated into subsequent [[Treaty|international treaties]], regional [[human rights]] instruments, and national [[constitution]]s and legal codes.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Protection of Human Rights under Universal International Law|url=https://www.un.org/en/chronicle/article/protection-human-rights-under-universal-international-law|access-date=25 June 2021|website=United Nations}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Declaration on Human Rights Defenders
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Humphrey is credited with devising the "blueprint" for the Declaration, while Cassin composed the first draft.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|date=6 October 2015|title=History of the Document|url=https://www.unsecretariat.net/en/sections/universal-declaration/history-document/index.html|access-date=5 April 2022|website=www.unsecretariat.net|language=en}}</ref> Both received considerable input from other members, each of whom reflected different professional and ideological backgrounds. The Declaration's pro-family phrases allegedly derived from Cassin and Malik, who were influenced by the [[Christian Democratic|Christian Democracy movement]];<ref>[[Allan C. Carlson|Carlson, Allan]]: [http://www.profam.org/docs/acc/thc.acc.globalizing.040112.htm Globalizing Family Values] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120525091122/http://www.profam.org/docs/acc/thc.acc.globalizing.040112.htm |date=25 May 2012 }}, 12 January 2004.</ref> Malik, a Christian theologian, was known for appealing across religious lines, and cited the [[Summa Theologica]], and studied the different Christian sects.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=Voinea|first=Nicoleta|title=Drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights|url=https://research.un.org/en/undhr/draftingcommittee|access-date=13 September 2020|website=research.un.org}}</ref> Chang urged removing all references to religion to make the document more universal, and used aspects of Confucianism to settle stalemates in negotiations.<ref>Sumner Twiss, "[http://courses.nus.edu.sg/course/ellbaozm/Papers/Rosemont.pdf#page=68 Confucian Ethics, Concept-Clusters, and Human Rights ,"] in Henry Rosemont, Marthe Chandler and Ronnie Littlejohn. ''Polishing the Chinese Mirror : Essays in Honor of Henry Rosemont, Jr.'' (New York: Global Scholarly Publications, Acpa Series of Chinese and Comparative Philosophy, 2008). {{ISBN|9781592670833}} p. 60-65.</ref> [[Hernán Santa Cruz]] of Chile, an educator and judge, strongly supported the inclusion of socioeconomic rights, which had been opposed by some Western nations.<ref name=":2" /> The members agreed that the philosophical debate centered between the opposing opinions of Chang and Malik, with Malik later singling out Chang when thanking the members, saying that there were too many to mention, but Chang's ideas impacted his own opinions in the making of the draft.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thenaturalfamily.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/TNF-2018-32.3-4.pdf|title=Natural-The Natural Family}}</ref><ref>A. J. Hobbins, ed., On the Edge of Greatness: The Diaries of John Humphrey, First Director of the United Nations Division of Human Rights (Montreal: McGill University Press, 1984), 1:174</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Roth|first=Hans Ingvar|title=P. C. Chang and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NM9tDwAAQBAJ&dq=chang+vs+malik&pg=PA177|page=177|publisher=University of Pennsylvania Press|date=September 2018|isbn=9780812295474}}</ref>
In her memoirs, Roosevelt commented on the debates and discussions that informed the UDHR, describing one such exchange during the Drafting Committee's first session in June 1947:<blockquote>Dr. Chang was a pluralist and held forth in charming fashion on the proposition that there is more than one kind of ultimate reality. The Declaration, he said, should reflect more than simply Western ideas and Dr. Humphrey would have to be eclectic in his approach. His remark, though addressed to Dr. Humphrey, was really directed at Dr. Malik, from whom it drew a prompt retort as he expounded at some length the philosophy of [[Thomas Aquinas]]. Dr. Humphrey joined enthusiastically in the discussion, and I remember that at one point Dr. Chang suggested that the Secretariat might well spend a few months studying the fundamentals of Confucianism!<ref name=":2" /></blockquote>
In May 1948, roughly a year after its creation, the Drafting Committee held its second and final session, where it considered the comments and suggestions of member states and international bodies, principally the United Nations Conference on Freedom of Information, which took place the prior March and April; the Commission on the Status of Women, a body within ECOSOC that reported on the state of women's rights worldwide; and the Ninth International Conference of American States, held in Bogota, Colombia from March to May
=== The final draft ===
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The Declaration's all-encompassing provisions serve as a "yardstick" and point of reference by which countries' commitments to human rights are judged, such as through the treaty bodies and other mechanisms of various human rights treaties that monitor implementation.<ref name="unfoundation.org"/>
=== Legal effect ===
In international law, a declaration is distinct from a treaty in that it generally states aspirations or understandings among the parties, rather than binding obligations.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|title=Glossary of terms relating to Treaty actions|url=https://treaties.un.org/https://treaties.un.org/Pages/Overview.aspx?path=overview/glossary/page1_en.xml#declarationsPages/Overview.aspx?path=overview/glossary/page1_en.xml#declarationshttps://treaties.un.org/Pages/Overview.aspx?path=overview/glossary/page1_en.xml#declarations|access-date=13 September 2020|website=treaties.un.org|archive-date=27 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027161632/https://treaties.un.org/https:/treaties.un.org/Pages/Overview.aspx?path=overview%2Fglossary%2Fpage1_en.xml#declarationsPages/Overview.aspx?path=overview/glossary/page1_en.xml|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Declaration was explicitly adopted to reflect and elaborate on the customary international law reflected in the "[[fundamental freedoms]]" and "human rights" referenced in the United Nations Charter, which is binding on all member states.<ref name=":6" /> For this reason, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a fundamental constitutive document of the United Nations and, by extension, all 193 parties of the United Nations Charter.
Nevertheless, the status of the Declaration as a legally enforceable document varies widely around the world: some countries have incorporated it into their domestic laws, while other countries consider it merely a statement of ideals, with no binding provisions.<ref>''See generally'' {{ill|Hurst Hannum|eu}}, "[https://digitalcommons.law.uga.edu/gjicl/vol25/iss1/ "The Status Of The Universal Declaration Of Human Rights In National And International Law]", ''Georgia Journal of International and Comparative Law'', Volume 25, Number 1 (1996), pp. 287–397.</ref>
Many international lawyers believe that the Declaration forms part of [[customary international law]] and is a powerful tool in applying diplomatic and moral pressure to governments that violate its articles.<ref>{{cite web|last=Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights|title=Digital record of the UDHR|url=http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NEWSEVENTS/Pages/DigitalrecordoftheUDHR.aspx|publisher=United Nations}}</ref><ref name="Ramcharan1979">{{cite book | last = John Peters | first = Humphrey | author-link = John Peters Humphrey | chapter = The universal declaration of human rights, Its history, impact andjuridical character | pages = 37 | editor-last = Bertrand G. | editor-first = Ramcharan | editor-link = Bertrand Ramcharan |title=Human Rights: Thirty Years After the Universal Declaration : Commemorative Volume on the Occasion of the Thirtieth Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=favRCKyN-_IC&pg=PA21 |date=23 May 1979 | publisher=Nijhoff |location = The Hage |isbn=9024721458}}</ref><ref name="Sohn1977">{{cite journal |title=The human rights law of the charter |journal=Texas International Law Journal |year=1977 |last=Sohn |first=Louis B. |author-link=Louis B. Sohn |volume=12 |pages=133 |issn=0163-7479 |url=https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/tilj12&div=18&id=&page= |access-date=21 March 2018 }}</ref><ref name="McDougal1969">{{cite journal |url=http://digitalcommons.law.yale.edu/fss_papers/2575 |title=Human Rights and World Public Order: A Framework for Policy-Oriented Inquiry |last1=Myres S. |first1=McDougal |author-link=Myres S. McDougal |last2=Lasswell |first2=Harold D. |author-link2=Harold Dwight Lasswell |last3=Chen |first3=Lung-chu |journal=Faculty Scholarship Series |publisher=[[Yale Law School]] |date=1969 |access-date=21 March 2018 |pages=273–274, 325–327 }}</ref><ref>Katharine G. Young, ''Freedom, Want and Economic and Social Rights: Frame and Law,'' 24 Md. J. Int'l L. 182 (2009) (Symposium on 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)</ref><ref name="DAmato1987">{{cite book|author=Anthony A. D'Amato|title=International law: process and prospect|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9CuPAAAAMAAJ|year=1987|publisher=Transnational Publishers|isbn=978-0941320351 |pages= 123–147}}</ref> One prominent international jurist described the UDHR as being "universally regarded as expounding generally accepted norms."<ref>R. Lallah, 2 Judicial Colloquium in Bangalore, Developing Human Rights Jurisprudence, The Domestic Application of International Human Rights Norms 33 (London, Commonwealth Secretariat, 1998)</ref> Other legal scholars have further argued that the Declaration constitutes ''[[jus cogens]]'', fundamental principles of international law from which no state may deviate or [[Derogation|derogate]].<ref>Justice M. Haleem, "The Domestic Application of International Human Rights Norms", ''Developing Human Rights Jurisprudence'', supra note 158, at 97; Myres S. Mcdougal, Harold Lasswell & Lung-Chu Chen, "Human Rights and World Public Order" 274 (New Haven, CT: [[Yale University Press]], 1980.</ref> The 1968 United Nations International Conference on Human Rights advised that the Declaration "constitutes an obligation for the members of the international community" to all persons.<ref>{{Cite web|date=14 February 2018|title=Human rights and the international community: twenty questions|url=https://en.unesco.org/courier/october-1978/human-rights-and-international-community-twenty-questions|access-date=14 September 2020|website=UNESCO|language=en}}</ref>
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