Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) (DP IB Global Politics: HL): Revision Note

Origins of the UDHR

• The UDHR is the most globally-recognised document outlining human rights

  • It combines global concepts of human rights into one document, although some claim it is Eurocentric

  • It was formed in the aftermath of World War II as part of a global desire to prevent further conflict

• World War II impacted the lives of millions of people

  • Over 25 million combatants were killed in battle globally

  • Over 6 million non-combatants were killed for who they were by Nazi Germany

  • The vast majority were Jewish, but other groups were also targeted

    • Roma 

    • People with disabilities 

    • Political opponents 

    • LGBTQ+

    • People of colour

    • Many other vulnerable and marginalised people

  • Japan was responsible for the deaths of millions of non-combatants in China, Indonesia, Philippines, India and Sri Lanka

  • In addition, millions of people became refugees once the war had ended

• The United Nations General Assembly made the decision to construct a formal declaration to protect human rights that all actors would respect

  • It was thought that a common agreement or global norms regarding human rights would help to ensure a better quality of life for all people and lessen the chance of future conflict

• The Human Rights Commission was formed to decide what those rights would be

  • It was led by human rights activist Eleanor Roosevelt (USA)

  • To ensure diversity of opinion non-Western participants included Peng-chun Chang (China) and Charles Habib Malik (Lebanon)

  • The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted in 1948 and immediately adopted by most member states

    • It is considered a non-binding international law

• Eight states abstained, highlighting that it was not universally accepted from the outset

  • Saudi Arabia objected on religious grounds, arguing that articles on marriage and freedom of religion conflicted with Islamic law

  • South Africa refused to support the declaration because its apartheid system of racial segregation directly contradicted the UDHR's commitment to equality

  • The Soviet bloc (USSR, Ukraine, Byelorussia, Yugoslavia, Poland and Czechoslovakia) argued that the UDHR placed too much emphasis on individual civil and political rights and not enough on collective economic and social rights

The UDHR and the Charter of the UN

• The Charter of the United Nations is the founding document of the UN

  • It clarifies that the main purpose of the UN is to prevent conflict and maintain peace

• The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a document which puts the ideals of the charter into practice

  • It lists thirty human rights in a clear and concise document that the UN believes will help achieve its goals

UDHR human rights

• The UDHR is an aspirational document

  • It is understood that there will never be a day where human rights are enjoyed by all people on earth, but it is essential to always be working toward this ideal

  • It established new global norms for human rights

  • States that want to enjoy the benefits of joining the United Nations must also accept the responsibilities outlined in the UDHR