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Universal Declaration of Human Rights - Coggle Diagram
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Context
Created after the Second World War, and adopted on December 10, 1948
Preventative measure to ensure horrors of Second World War didn’t occur again
Meant to supplement UN Charter and act as roadmap to guarantee rights of people everywhere
Drafted by Commission on Human Rights
Members of commission included Eleanor Roosevelt (widow of FDR), Rene Cassin of France, Charles Malik of Lebanon, Peng Chung Chang of China, and John Humphrey of Canada
Enforcement
Not legally binding
Has been incorporated into legal documents (domestic legal systems/legislation compatible with their respective country’s treaty obligations and duties), national constitutions, and through ratification of international human rights treaties
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has lead responsibility in the UN system for the promotion and protection of human rights
Critiques
Western-based document that does not consider the cultural norms and standards of other nations
Not legally binding
Is optional, and thus not followed in its entirety everywhere
Better on paper than in practice, as there are no serious consequences for violating it
Less developed countries can’t enforce some of the rights, for example, may not be able to grant education to all
Successes
Large numbers of people have gained independence; have secured freedom from torture or unlawful imprisonment; and have been given aid or protection from prejudice and harm
Near-universal acceptance (and inspired more than 80 international conventions and treaties)
Additional explicit protections in international law now exist covering, among others, children, women, victims of torture, persons with disabilities, and regional institutions
Signatories
Eight countries abstained from signing the UDHR, including six communist countries that were under the Soviet Union, alongside South Africa and Saudi Arabia
Honduras and Yemen failed to either vote or abstain
All 193 member states of the UN have ratified at least one of the nine binding treaties influenced by the UDHR, with the vast majority ratifying four or more
