Back

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

10 December 1948

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Share

  • Intro

    On December 10, 1948 the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Following this historic act, the Assembly called upon all member countries to publicise the text of the Declaration and "to cause it to be disseminated, displayed, read and expounded principally in schools and other educational institutions, without distinction based on the political status of countries or territories."

     

    The rights set out in the Declaration include the following:

    • 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.
    • 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, 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, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.
    • Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.
    • No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.
    • No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

     

    Shelfmark: UNA.500/19

  • Image

  • Audio

    Can't play the file above? Listen to the audio clip here

Find out more about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Here

Explore more timeline content: