UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights

[Mark Robinowitz <mrobinowitz@igc.org>]

note:  The United States is a signatory to this Declaration.  It would be
nice to see it implemented one day.

Questioner:  "What do you think about Western Civilization?"
Mr. Gandhi:  "I think it would be a good idea!"

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THE UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS	

Preamble

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 it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as
a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human right
should be protected by the rule of law,

Whereas the people of the United Nations have in the Charter rearmed their
faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human
person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to
promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,

Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in cooperation
with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and
observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms,

Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the
greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge,

Now, therefore The General Assembly

Proclaims this Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a common standard of
achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every
individual and every  organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly
in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these
rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international
to secure their  universal and effective recognition and observance, both
among the peoples of Member States themselves and among, the peoples of
territories under their jurisdiction.

Article 1

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.

Article 2

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 orinternational status of the
country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent,
trust, nonselfgoverning or under any other limitation of sovereignty.

Article 3

Everyone has the right to life, liberty and the security of person.

Article 4

No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade
shall be prohibited in all their forms.

Article 5

No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading
treatment or punishment.

Article 6

Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.

Article 7

All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to
equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against
any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any
incitement to such discrimination.

Article 8

Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national
tribunals for acts violating the fundamental right granted him by the
constitution or by law.

Article 9

No one shall be subject to arbitrary arrest. detention or exile.

Article 10

Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an
independent and impartial tribunal. in the determination of his rights and
obligations and of any criminal charge against him.

Article 11

1. Everyone charged with a penal offense has the right to be presumed
innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he
had all the guarantees necessary for his defense.
2. No one shall be held guilty of any penal offense on account of any act or
omission which did not constitute a penal offense under national or
international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier
penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal
offense was committed.

Article 12

No one shall be subject to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family,
home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation.
Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such
interference or attacks.

Article 13

1. Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the
borders of each state.
2. Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to
return to his country.

Article 14

1. Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum
from persecution.
2. This right may not be invoked in the case of prosecution genuinely
arising from nonpolitical crimes or from acts contrary to the purposes and
principles of the United Nations.

Article 15

1. Everyone has the right to a nationality.
2. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the
right to change his nationality.

Article 16

Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality
or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are
entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.

Article 17

1. Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association
with others.
2. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.

Article 18

Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this
right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either
alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his
religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

Article 19

Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right
includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive
and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
Article 20

1. Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
2. No one may be compelled to belong to an association.

Article 21

1. Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country,
directly or through freely chosen representatives.

2. Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country.
3. The will of the people shall be basis of the authority of government;
this will shall be expressed in the periodic and genuine elections which
shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or
by equivalent free voting procedures.

Article 22

Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is
entitled to realization, through national effort and international
cooperation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each
State of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his
dignity and the free development of his personality.

Article 23

1. Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and
favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.
2. Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for
equal work.
3. Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable renumeration
ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity,
and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.
4. Everyone has the right to form and to join trade for the protection of
his interests.

Article 24

Everyone has the right to rest and leisure including reasonable limitation
of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.

Article 25

1. Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health
and wellbeing of himself and of his family, including food, clothing,
housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to
security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old
age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.

2. Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All
children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social
protection.

Article 26

1. Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in
the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be
compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally
available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the
basis of merit.

2. Education shall be directed to the full development of the human
personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and
fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and
friendship among all nations, racial or religiousgroups, and shall further
the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.
3. Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be
given to their children.

Article 27

1. Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the
community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its
benefits.

2. Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material
interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of
which he is the author.

Article 28

Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights
and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized.

Article 29

1. Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full
development of his personality is possible.

2. In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject
only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of
securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others
and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the
general welfare in a democratic society.
3. These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the
purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Article 30

Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State,
group or persons any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act
aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.