Author Bio: The United Nations was formed in April 1945, immediately following World War II. Fifty countries' delegates met in San Francisco at the United Nations Conference on International Organization to form the international body that would replace the League of Nations. This assembly, known as the United Nations, stated in its Charter that went into effect on October 24, 1945, that they are committed to rescue succeeding generations from the suffering of war by promoting peace. The United Nations now consists of 193 countries, all of which are Member States of the General Assembly. There is also the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the International Court of Justice, the Trusteeship Council, and the UN Secretariat. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights specifically was written by the Human Rights Commission under the chairmanship of Eleanor Roosevelt.
Date/Context: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was accepted by the United Nations on December 10, 1948, at the United Nations General Assembly in Paris. It was a result of World War II, and was a major step forward for the young United Nations, which had only been formed three years earlier. The declaration was the first document to assemble and present thirty fundamental human rights, of which many are now incorporated into the constitutional laws of democratic nations. This was a turning point for many countries in how they treated humans and what rights they respected.
Summary: Accepted by the United Nations in 1948, three years after the conclusion of the Second World War and the creation of the United Nations, it begins with a preface that outlines the reasons for creating the declaration and states that the General Assembly proclaims it as a common standard for all people and nations that strives to promote respect for these rights and freedoms, including freedom of speech and belief, and liberty from fear and want. It immediately launches into the rights of humans. The first two articles state that all humans receive equally these rights, without exceptions. The following 9 articles, Articles 3 through 11, describe the many rights concerning freedom, law and justice. Humans have the right to life, liberty, and security of person, and cannot be subjected to slavery or torture; they also all have recognition as a person before the law and have the same rights concerning justice. Article 12 protects people's security, privacy, family, home, and correspondence. The next five articles focus on freedom in movement between countries, right to asylum, right to nationality, and rights about marriage and property. Articles 18 and 19 grant people the freedoms of thought, conscience, religion, and opinion. The following articles, up to Article 28, concern people's rights in society. Everyone is allowed to peacefully assemble and associate, take part in government, receive equal public service, receive social security, have the right to work and equal pay for equal work, the rights to rest, leisure, an adequate standard of living, and education, and the right to participate in cultural life. The last three articles, Articles 28, 29, and 30, entitle people to a social and international order that realizes people's rights, subject people only to limitations that are determined by law to protect other people's rights, and end by stating that nothing in the document may be interpreted in a way that allows any State, group, or people to perform or engage in any act that destroys the rights and freedoms listed.
Key Quotation: "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 a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge...All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights."
Identifying Characteristics: There are three major identifying characteristics of "The Universal Declaration of Human Rights." The first major identifying characteristic is that the declaration was written by people of many different cultures and nations all over the world. This is very important because it shows an elimination of bias within the authors. Another identifying characteristic is the articles that makes up the declaration itself. The articles were written to establish human rights that are to be protected. Finally, the last major identifying characteristic is that the articles are to be followed. This means that the government or people cannot take away another persons human rights.
ReplyDeleteFeedback: The summary of the declaration was very well written and provided adequate details on the declaration. One thing that was done very well was the summarization of all thirty 30 articles. When reading the summary I believed I had gained knowledge of what the articles entailed, without reading them verbatim. Secondly, another thing done very well was the inclusion of the key quote. The key quote accurately summarized the declaration because it was the preamble to the declaration. This provides the reader with previous knowledge of why these articles were being written. Finally, I believe that the articles he chose to review in further detail were the most important articles that needed to be reiterated.
Very well done! You provided excellent analysis and concise, concrete background for this document. One point to consider, there are some individuals and countries who are critical of the UN because it is viewed a s tool of the powerful, developed states who "won" World War II.
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