Universally Accepted Declaration of Human Rights Essay example

“Ideas about human rights have evolved over many centuries. But they achieved strong international support following the Holocaust and World War II. To protect future generations from a repeat of these horrors, the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in 1948 and invited states to sign and ratify it”

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, categories all human beings as free. Article one identify all human beings as 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. Article two states, Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust,

The Article 1 of the UDHR provides that “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights”

The concept of the universal declaration of human rights is to give everyone equal rights and to take away single incidents or “accidents”. The value of people’s views keep peace and justice in the world. The quote “whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of justice and peace in the world” (UN Commission 1-3). The text also explains how the man is inclined to the right of other men and the ability to provide justice does not require

On a global political stand point there was a uniting of ideas and governments; what we know today as the United Nations (UN). One of the main ideas which the UN has grown up around is ‘The individual possess rights simply by virtue of being Human’ (The Universal Declaration of human rights); which was adopted by the general assembly in 10th December 1948. This statement is reflect in the core principles

“History doesn’t repeat itself, but it does rhyme.” as Mark Twain is often reputed to have said explains with much rhetoric that in fact history is not repeated in a sense that the same events happen over and over again, instead events embrace similar themes. The same concept of Mr. Twain’s history comparison can be brought in support of why the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) drafted in 1948 by the UN --an international agreement that dictates basic rights and undeniable freedoms in which all human beings are entitled to-- should be updated. After analyzing the Human Rights Treaty it was concluded that amending the UDHR should be considered because of advancements in the world, in main part due to globalization and

It was “solemnly” proclaimed that “The Universal Declaration of Human Rights [UNDHR] states a common understanding of the peoples of the world concerning the inalienable and inviolable rights of all members of the human family and constitutes an obligation for the members of the international community” . The UNDHR gave value to the term ‘human rights’, stressing the value of human dignity. However, the article also recognises the need for social order, Article 29 acknowledges that limits to these rights must be determined by law and can only be for the purposes of securing recognition and respect of others and to meet “the just requirements of morality, public order, and the general welfare in a democratic society”. Any restriction on these rights has to be justified as proportionate to the aims pursued by the restriction, for example, a police officer is justified in wielding a firearm against an individual deemed to be putting other lives in

The United Nation’s Declaration of Human Rights was commissioned in December 1948 by the UN General Assembly in an attempt to create a standard which is common to all people regardless of “race, sex, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion or any other status”. It is the United Nations responsibility to ensure that the participating countries follow these articles set forth by the assembly and to ensure that these rights are not being desecrated. The term "Human Rights" is best described by the United Nations as "Human rights are the rights to be born free, the right to life, the right to equality, the right to freedom, the right to assembly and the right to own property which is inherent to all human beings”. However, this statute by the

“The French deputies of the Estates General reborn as the National Assembly of 1789 didn’t just want to proclaim the rights of Frenchmen but those for all times and all nations.” It is recognized as the greatest expression of human rights. This was a declaration whose primary goal was two fold. It served to protect individuals from government and form the basis of a new government. It is the model for future societies seeking freedom and self government. The ideas expounded in the declaration were revolutionary when they saw the light of day in 1789 and they have survived and from them we recognize the creation of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) 1948, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch (1978) and a Bill of Rights (American Constitution)and that truly makes them revolutionary. All these organizations seek a guarantee of individual rights and limitations on governments and 250 years later, they reflect the thinking of the writers of the Declaration of the Rights of

There are some countries that does not allow you to practice your religion unless it is the state’s religion. Everyone has the right to freedom of religion. Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations in 1948. However, with the help of tv and social media, we all know that individuals are torture due to their religion. However, there are countries that are adhering the law and little is done about it. For example, Pakistan is one of the many countries that still show violence other religious groups. These laws are put in place by the United Nations to protect the human rights around the

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights possesses thirty total laws of which each individual living on this Earth has a right to have. However, all throughout history, those specific rights have been violated by others. The “Right to Equality”, the “Freedom from Discrimination”, the “Freedom from Torture and Degrading Treatment”, and the rest, are contravened daily. All of these rights are supposedly protected by the thirtieth right: “No One Can Take Away Your Human Rights”. Yet, this law is the most disobeyed in the world. Our human rights are taken away from us all the time; especially in the United States and Afghanistan. White dominance during the Civil Rights movement and the unjust rule of the Taliban are two of the biggest violators of the final right in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

However, this is debated which I will go into more detail later on. It had the inspiration to promote friendly relations between nations and it is emphasised that all nations should cooperate. Though, this can be said to be naive as to go as far to declare that all countries abide by the Declaration and that it is universal is mistaken. What does it mean to be universal? The concept believes that human rights belong to all human being and that it is fundamental and essential to every type of society. Those who disagree that human rights are universal believe that human rights are based on your culture, it has to be understood that a right for one group maybe outright intolerable to members of another group. Human rights are being viewed as being too ‘Western’ and representing specific cultural norms and belief system of some cultures and societies rather than all. This is the cultural relativist argument, the belief that human rights cannot be applied to non-Western nations. The belief has been endorsed by many political leaders, Singapore’s former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew suggested that the ‘Western concepts of democracy and human rights will not work in Asia, by explaining that the West is too individualistic compared to family-orientated Asia. ‘What Asians value may not necessarily be what Americans or Europeans value? Westerners value the freedoms and liberties of the individual. As an Asian of Chinese cultural background, my values are for a government which is

The doctrine of human rights is one of the concepts which have played a role in the civilization of several countries. These inalienable rights were created to protect and preserve the dignity of all humans regardless of race, sex, nationality and religion. Also, they were design to secure everyone’s right to liberty, property and happiness. They are meant to create and establish a brotherly relationship among all nations. However, according to Article six of the Declaration of Human Rights, “everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law” (UDHR). By way of explanation this article clarifies that one’s expression of human rights must be in accordance with the law of whatever land one resides. These rights do

Though the UDHR has been ratified by every country in the world, there are many nations that have violated the very Articles that they consented to be bound by. There are many examples of such violations in the sixty-eight years since the initial acceptance of the UDHR by the UN General Assembly. Many of these violations are committed under the auspices of cultural, moral or ethical relativism. Ethical Relativism is the idea that one’s morals are only bound or defined by the norms of the culture in which they are a part. For example, if a practice that is accepted by the local culture, or is a part of the tradition or fundamental values of that culture, then the practice is considered moral (Velasquez, 1992). Some example of such accepted practices are female genital mutilation, public stoning and dismemberment of those who break certain laws. Most of these accepted practices take place in less developed nations, such as Iraq, Algeria, and some sub-Saharan nations in Africa. The irony is that each of these nations has ratified the UDHR, yet they do not prohibit such acts against its citizens.

“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.” These opening words of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights express a concept of man which underpins the framework of human rights embodied in the Universal Declaration and the two international covenants of Human Rights. Western political traditions is a concept that it derives from, is in harmony with moral and social teachings to be found in many other traditions and patterns of belief.