ROMSO Cyprus Knowledge Base

**Universal Declaration of Human Rights**
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The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a document adopted by the United Nations General Assembly that codifies some of the rights and freedoms of all human beings.

**Background**
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The UDHR was adopted on December 10, 1948, as part of the International Bill of Human Rights. The text consists of 30 articles and is considered the first global definition of the rights that all people have.

**History**
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During the Age of Enlightenment, ideas about natural law began to flourish. Based on these ideas, the Bill of Rights in the United Kingdom, the Bill of Rights in the United States, and the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen in France were created and adopted.

World War II clearly demonstrated the need for a universal human rights treaty. In 1941, Franklin D. Roosevelt called for the promotion of four essential freedoms: freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. This gave a new impetus to the development of human rights as a necessary condition for peace and the end of war.

**Drafting**
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The first meeting of the UN Commission on Human Rights was held in 1947, where Eleanor Roosevelt was elected Chairman of the Commission. The Commission included representatives of 18 countries and had to prepare a document that would enumerate and describe individual rights.

Since the Commission had widely differing views, it was agreed that three representatives would prepare the original text for consideration by the Commission at its second meeting. The subcommittee on drafting the Declaration included Eleanor Roosevelt herself, Zhang Pengchun from China, and Charles Malik from Lebanon. John Humphrey, a Canadian expert in international law, was commissioned to submit an initial draft of the text.

**Articles**
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The UDHR consists of 30 articles that cover various aspects of human rights, including:

* **Article 1**: All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.
* **Article 3-5**: Establish individual rights such as the right to life, freedom from slavery, and the prohibition of torture.
* **Articles 12-17**: Set out the rights of individuals towards the community, including freedom of movement, residence, and association.
* **Articles 18-21**: Sanction "constitutional freedoms" and spiritual, public, and political liberties such as freedom of thought, conscience, religion, expression, news media, association, and assembly.
* **Articles 22-27**: Sanction economic, social, and cultural rights, including the right to work, health, housing, education, and social security.

**Significance**
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The UDHR serves as a foundation for human rights law and has been widely adopted by countries around the world. It emphasizes the importance of dignity, equality, and freedom for all individuals, regardless of their characteristics such as race, sex, religion, or nationality.

**References**
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* International Covenant on Human Rights
* International Bill of Human Rights
* Eleanor Roosevelt
* John Humphrey