The Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a landmark document in the history of human rights, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 10, 1948, at the Palais de Chaillot in Paris. It proclaims a wide range of fundamental rights and freedoms to which all people are entitled—regardless of race, gender, nationality, religion, or any other status.

The Declaration consists of a preamble and 30 articles that outline civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights. These include the right to life, liberty, and personal security; freedom of speech, religion, and assembly; the right to education and work; and protection from torture, slavery, and discrimination.

The UDHR was drafted by an international committee chaired by Eleanor Roosevelt of the United States. Major contributors included René Cassin of France (widely regarded as the principal author), Charles Malik of Lebanon, Peng Chun Chang of China, and John Humphrey of Canada, who prepared the initial draft. Indian delegate Hansa Mehta also played a key role, particularly in ensuring that the language of the text reflected gender equality.

Of the 58 member states at the time, 48 voted in favor of the Declaration. Eight countries abstained—including the Soviet Union, South Africa, and Saudi Arabia—but none voted against it.

Although the UDHR is not legally binding, it laid the foundation for major international human rights treaties, such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), both of which were adopted in the 1960s and are legally enforceable under international law.