We often take for granted the basic human rights that allow us to obtain education, live in a safe and secure environment and freedom to have an opinion. However, many people across the world have their fundamental rights stripped away from them for a variety of reasons. In this blog post, we will take a deep dive into the details of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, including examples of its implementation, instances of its violation, and what we can do to advocate for and promote human rights.
What is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a document which outlines the fundamental rights and freedoms to which all humans are entitled, regardless of race, religion, nationality, or gender. This document was adopted by the United Nations on December 10, 1948.
This document comprises a total of 30 articles that serve to explain these fundamental rights and serve as a standard for all countries and governments to follow. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was created after World War 2 to prevent future atrocities and severe human rights violations from happening again. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is recognized as a symbol of peace as it is viewed as a guideline for a peaceful, free, and civil society that prioritizes the dignity and equal rights of all people.
The core principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights include:
- Universality: These human rights are universal and apply to everyone regardless of nationality, religion, gender and any discrimination is not tolerated.
- Inalienability: These human rights and freedoms are guaranteed for all humans and are not something that is earned or given away. This means that even if a person commits a crime, they still possess these fundamental rights.
- Indivisibility: Emphasizes that all rights are equally important and interdependent.
Examples where UDHR principles are upheld?
There are some examples around the world where the principles and articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights are followed. Here are some examples:
- Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Canada: Grants the majority of the human rights stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, including the freedom of expression, religion, and equality.
- European Court of Human Rights (ECHR): Allows individuals to file complaints against states for violations of human rights. This ensures that these rights are protected and established everywhere.
Examples Where UDHR Principles are Broken
Though in an ideal world, all articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights should be protected, in the real world, there are many cases in history where the articles have been violated. Here are some examples:
- Discrimination: In some countries around the world, citizens are significantly discriminated against based on race, lacking the fundamental principle of equality before the law.
- Inequality: In various countries around the world, regime Loyalty is prioritized over equality. In this system, many citizens are systematically targeted on the basis of social, political or gender grounds.
How can we promote Human Rights?
Human rights and the principles outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights are violated in a lot of places across the world where humans are commonly persecuted and discriminated against. In this day and age, there are lots of steps that we can take to promote human rights and advocate for our views. First and foremost, we can spread awareness about incidents which violate human rights and explain what the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is to others through social media. You can also volunteer with local organizations that promote basic human rights and donate money or items to various non-government organizations aimed to solve issues faced by many across the world.