Week 1 Discussion

Please, answer ONE of the following.

1.) Which of the Human Rights Acts do you find the most important? Please explain.

2.) What is the largest challenge facing international human rights protection today? Has globalization and technology increased awareness and protection? Or, has the development of international trade led to greater levels of exploitation?

250 words

students examples:

Steven

In my humble opinion, when talking about the Human Rights Acts, I believe the most important is Article 15.
Which states that “1. Everyone has the right to a nationality. 2. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality. The reason for this is because Nationality, as well as our spiritual beliefs for example, is a part of our identity and our way of being. Our nationality can explain who we are, why we do things, and what we fight for. We our not limited to just a “legal” nationality because of birth, nor can we not be limited to our choices of nationality due to race and religion. This Act gives us a right to be the people that we truly are and express ourselves better.

another examples

lucas

I find The Universal Declaration of Human Rights the most important. It laid the modern framework for the liberal west’s interpretation of human rights and successfully enabled a century-plus long expansion of human rights that translated into historic levels of freedom of speech, guarantee of liberty, and other fundamental human rights across the world.

This ties into the second question – what is the largest challenge facing international human rights protection today. As the world order shifts away from one organized around the west towards a multipolar one organized around different power centers, some of which do not espouse western liberalism and democracy but instead authoritarianism, the continued expansion of human rights is threatened, especially in regards to protecting minorities. This trend goes hand-in-hand with mounting global populism, which tends to leverage xenophobia and nationalism to cement itself.

other

sarah

Although difficult to single out one, it is my personal opinion that Article 10: Freedom of Expression is the most important. If applied, this Article protects our individual right to hold our own opinions and express them aloud, whether it be through social media, public protest, or published articles. Further, it allows those around us to do the same – presenting different perspectives of the same topic(s). To be able to learn from others and their belief systems, as well as express your own, is vital in order to create an open dialogue and incite change. Through this Article, we have the ability to stand up for what we believe in, and push those in power to make a change.

15 United Nations
All rights reserved worldwide

Illustrations by Yacine Ait Kaci (YAK)

This illustrated edition of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
(UDHR) is published by the United Nations in Arabic, Chinese, English,
French, Russian, and Spanish.

This illustrated edition of the UDHR was created and designed in a
partnership between the artist Yacine Ait Kaci (YAK) creator of Elyx,
the United Nations Regional information Centre (UNRIC), and the
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights –
Regional Office for Europe (OHCHR).

This illustrated edition of the UDHR may be reproduced and/or trans-
lated in whole or in part without prior permission provided that it be
distributed at no cost (free distribution). Publishers are required to
remove the United Nations emblem from their edition and include
proper credits. Translations must bear the following disclaimer: “The
present work is an unofficial translation for which the publisher accepts
full responsibility.”

All requests to sell excerpts, photocopies, reprints, translations
of this illustrated edition of the UDHR should be addressed to
permissions@un.org.

The drawings by YAK included in this illustrated edition of the UDHR
are protected by copyright and can only be reproduced to illustrate the
text of the UDHR.

UNITED
NATIONS

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Foreword

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
remains as relevant today as it was on the day in
194

that it was proclaimed and adopted by the
United Nations General Assembly. The extraordi-
nary vision and resolve of the drafters produced
a document that, for the first time, articulated the
rights and freedoms to which every human being
is equally and inalienably entitled.

Now available in more than 360 languages, the
Declaration is the most translated document in
the world — a testament to its global nature and
reach. It has become a yardstick by which we
measure right and wrong. It provides a founda-
tion for a just and decent future for all, and has
given people everywhere a powerful tool in the
fight against oppression, impunity and affronts
to human dignity.

| U n i v e r s a l D e c l a r a t i o n o f H u m a n R i g h t s | i v

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NATIONS

The commitment of the United Nations to
human rights stems from the Organization’s
founding Charter. The international community
has a duty to uphold and defend these rights. Let
us ensure that those people who most need their
rights protected are made aware that this Decla-
ration exists — and that it exists for them. Let us
each do our part to make these universal rights
a living reality for every man, woman and child,
everywhere.

BAN Ki-moon
Secretary-General

Foreword

UNITED
NATIONS

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In perhaps the most resonant and beautiful
words of any international agreement, “all human
beings are born free and equal in dignity and
rights”. The commitments made by all States in
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights are
in themselves a mighty achievement, discredit-
ing the tyranny, discrimination and contempt for
human beings that have marked human history.

The Universal Declaration promises to all the
economic, social, political, cultural and civic
rights that underpin a life free from want and
fear. They are not a reward for good behaviour.
They are not country-specific, or particular to
a certain era or social group. They are the inalien-
able entitlements of all people, at all times, and
in all places — people of every colour, from every
race and ethnic group; whether or not they are

Introduction

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UNITED
NATIONS

disabled; citizens or migrants; no matter their sex,
their class, their caste, their creed, their age or
sexual orientation.

Human rights abuses did not end when the Univer-
sal Declaration was adopted. But since then, count-
less people have gained greater freedom. Violations
have been prevented; independence and autonomy
have been attained. Many people – though not all
– have been able to secure freedom from torture,
unjustified imprisonment, summary execution,
enforced disappearance, persecution and unjust
discrimination, as well as fair access to education,
economic opportunities, and adequate resources
and health-care. They have obtained justice for
wrongs, and national and international protection
for their rights, through the strong architecture of
the international human rights legal system.

Introduction

UNITED
NATIONS

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The power of the Universal Declaration is the
power of ideas to change the world. It inspires
us to continue working to ensure that all people
can gain freedom, equality and dignity. One vital
aspect of this task is to empower people to demand
what should be guaranteed: their human rights.
This booklet constitutes a modest but significant
contribution to that work.

Introduction

Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

UNITED
NATIONS

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Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and
of the equal and inalienable rights of all members
of the human family is the foundation of freedom,
justice and peace in the world,

Whereas disregard and contempt for human
rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have
outraged the conscience of mankind, and the
advent of a world in which human beings shall
enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom
from fear and want has been proclaimed as the
highest aspiration of the common people,

Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled
to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against
tyranny and oppression, that human rights should
be protected by the rule of law,

Preamble

Universal
Declaration of
Human Rights

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UNITED
NATIONS

Universal
Declaration of
Human Rights

Whereas it is essential to promote the develop-
ment of friendly relations between nations,

Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in
the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental
human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human
person and in the equal rights of men and women
and have determined to promote social progress and
better standards of life in larger freedom,

Whereas Member States have pledged themselves
to achieve, in cooperation with the United Nations,
the promotion of universal respect for and obser-
vance of human rights and fundamental freedoms,

Whereas a common understanding of these rights
and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the
full realization of this pledge,

UNITED
NATIONS

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Now, therefore,
The General Assembly

proclaims

this Universal Declaration of Human Rights

as a common standard of achievement for all
peoples and all nations, to the end that every
individual and every organ of society, keeping
this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive
by teaching and education to promote respect
for these rights and freedoms and by progressive
measures, national and international, to secure
their universal and effective recognition and
observance, both among the peoples of Member
States themselves and among the peoples of
territories under their jurisdiction.

Universal
Declaration of
Human Rights

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Article

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NATIONS

All human beings are born free and
equal in dignity and rights. They are
endowed with reason and conscience
and should act towards one another in a
spirit of brotherhood.

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Article
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NATIONS

02
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, poli-
tical or other opinion, national or social
origin, property, birth or other status.
Furthermore, no distinction shall be
made on the basis of the political, juris-
dictional or international status of the
country or territory to which a person
belongs, whether it be independent,
trust, non-self-governing or under any
other limitation of sovereignty.

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Article
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NATIONS

Everyone has the right to life,
liberty and security of person.03

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Article
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NATIONS

No one shall be held in slavery or
servitude; slavery and the slave trade
shall be prohibited in all their forms.04

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Article
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NATIONS

No one shall be subjected to torture or to
cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment
or punishment. 05

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Article
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NATIONS

Everyone has the right to recognition
everywhere as a person before the law.06

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Article
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NATIONS

All are equal before the law and are
entitled without any discrimination
to equal protection of the law. All are
entitled to equal protection against
any discrimination in violation of this
Declaration and against any incitement
to such discrimination.

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Article
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NATIONS

Everyone has the right to an effective
remedy by the competent national tribu-
nals for acts violating the fundamental
rights granted him by the consti tution
or by law.

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Article
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NATIONS

No one shall be subjected to
arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.