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Universal and Inalienable: Turned 70 30 Articles

Human rights are inherent to all human beings regardless of attributes. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was the first international document to outline fundamental human rights and continues to be the foundation for international human rights law. Along with two additional covenants, the UDHR makes up the International Bill of Rights. Key principles of international human rights law established in the UDHR include the universality, inalienability, indivisibility, and equal and non-discriminatory nature of human rights. States have obligations under international law to respect, protect, and fulfill human rights, while individuals should also respect and uphold the human rights of others.

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Lenchie Gayramon
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54 views2 pages

Universal and Inalienable: Turned 70 30 Articles

Human rights are inherent to all human beings regardless of attributes. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was the first international document to outline fundamental human rights and continues to be the foundation for international human rights law. Along with two additional covenants, the UDHR makes up the International Bill of Rights. Key principles of international human rights law established in the UDHR include the universality, inalienability, indivisibility, and equal and non-discriminatory nature of human rights. States have obligations under international law to respect, protect, and fulfill human rights, while individuals should also respect and uphold the human rights of others.

Uploaded by

Lenchie Gayramon
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Human rights are rights we have simply because we exist as human beings - they are not

granted by any state. These universal rights are inherent to us all, regardless of nationality,
sex, national or ethnic origin, color, religion, language, or any other status. They range from the
most fundamental - the right to life - to those that make life worth living, such as the rights to
food, education, work, health, and liberty.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), adopted by the UN General Assembly


in 1948, was the first legal document to set out the fundamental human rights to be universally
protected. The UDHR, which turned 70 in 2018, continues to be the foundation of all
international human rights law. Its 30 articles provide the principles and building blocks of
current and future human rights conventions, treaties and other legal instruments.

The UDHR, together with the 2 covenants - the International Covenant for Civil and Political
Rights, and the International Covenant for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights - make up
the International Bill of Rights.

Universal and inalienable


The principle of universality of human rights is the cornerstone of international human rights
law. This means that we are all equally entitled to our human rights. This principle, as first
emphasized in the UDHR, is repeated in many international human rights conventions,
declarations, and resolutions.

Human rights are inalienable. They should not be taken away, except in specific situations and
according to due process. For example, the right to liberty may be restricted if a person is found
guilty of a crime by a court of law.

Indivisible and interdependent

All human rights are indivisible and interdependent.


This means that one set of rights cannot be enjoyed fully without the other. For example, making
progress in civil and political rights makes it easier to exercise economic, social and cultural
rights. Similarly, violating economic, social and cultural rights can negatively affect many other
rights.

Equal and non-discriminatory


Article 1 of the UDHR states: "All human beings are
born free and equal in dignity and rights." Freedom from discrimination, set out in Article 2, is
what ensures this equality.   

Non-discrimination cuts across all international human rights law. This principle is present in all
major human rights treaties. It also provides the central theme of 2 core instruments: the
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, and the
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.  

Both rights and obligations


All States have ratified at least 1 of the 9 core human rights treaties, as well as 1 of the 9
optional protocols. 80% of States have ratified 4 or more. This means that States have
obligations and duties under international law to respect, protect and fulfill human rights.

 The obligation to respect means that States must refrain from interfering with or
curtailing the enjoyment of human rights.
 The obligation to protect requires States to protect individuals and groups against
human rights abuses.
 The obligation to fulfill means that States must take positive action to facilitate the
enjoyment of basic human rights.
Meanwhile, as individuals, while we are entitled to our human rights - but, we should also
respect and stand up for the human rights of others.

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