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The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy ( IATP ) is an international non-profit research and advocacy organization that promotes sustainable food, farm, and trade systems. IATP has offices in Minneapolis , Minnesota , Washington, D.C ., Geneva, Switzerland and Berlin , Germany .

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77-442: IATP is an acronym that may refer to: Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy , see iatp.org International Airlines Technical Pool , see Turkish Technic Internet Access and Training Program Interactive Agent Transfer Protocol ; see List of IP protocol numbers (Hex: 0x75, protocol: #117) International Association for Trauma Professionals , formerly called IATP, now

154-487: A Greek temple, with a foundation, steps, four columns, and a pediment . Articles 1 and 2—with their principles of dignity, liberty, equality and brotherhood—served as the foundation blocks. The seven paragraphs of the preamble, setting out the reasons for the Declaration, represent the steps leading up to the temple. The main body of the Declaration forms the four columns. The first column (articles 3–11) constitutes rights of

231-572: A report, Not So Sweet: Missing Mercury and High Fructose Corn Syrup Archived 2009-04-16 at the Wayback Machine , that examined the presence of mercury in high fructose corn syrup . Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie returned to the United States from a 1986 Geneva meeting and incorporated the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy as a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization , with

308-549: A treaty in that it generally states aspirations or understandings among the parties, rather than binding obligations. The Declaration was explicitly adopted to reflect and elaborate on the customary international law reflected in the " fundamental freedoms " and "human rights" referenced in the United Nations Charter, which is binding on all member states. For this reason, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

385-504: A video on how General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) affects American agriculture policy, to over 1,000 local organizers, opinion leaders and teachers. In 1991, In New York, IATP conducted trainings and strategy coordination for 20 coalition partners in preparation for the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development . In 1992, United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, more commonly known as

462-475: Is TraumaPro Association see www.iptrauma.org Topics referred to by the same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title IATP . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=IATP&oldid=1223735579 " Category : Disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description

539-492: Is a fundamental constitutive document of the United Nations and, by extension, all 193 parties of the United Nations Charter. Nevertheless, the status of the Declaration as a legally enforceable document varies widely around the world: some countries have incorporated it into their domestic laws, while other countries consider it merely a statement of ideals, with no binding provisions. Many international lawyers believe that

616-399: Is allowed to practice them unless he/she use them as a source of power. The Declaration's all-encompassing provisions serve as a "yardstick" and point of reference by which countries' commitments to human rights are judged, such as through the treaty bodies and other mechanisms of various human rights treaties that monitor implementation. In international law, a declaration is distinct from

693-793: Is an international document adopted by the United Nations General Assembly that enshrines the rights and freedoms of all human beings . Drafted by a UN committee chaired by Eleanor Roosevelt , it was accepted by the General Assembly as Resolution 217 during its third session on 10 December 1948 at the Palais de Chaillot in Paris, France. Of the 58 members of the United Nations at the time, 48 voted in favour, none against, eight abstained , and two did not vote. A foundational text in

770-400: Is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy IATP works to integrate sustainability throughout the food and farm system, from supporting farmers and the environment to securing universal access to healthy food. IATP identifies the impact trade agreements have on farmers, consumers and

847-474: Is generally considered to be a milestone document for its universalist language, which makes no reference to a particular culture, political system, or religion. It directly inspired the development of international human rights law , and was the first step in the formulation of the International Bill of Human Rights , which was completed in 1966 and came into force in 1976. Although not legally binding ,

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924-604: Is responsible for promoting human rights, created the Commission on Human Rights (CHR)—a standing body within the United Nations that was tasked with preparing what was initially conceived as an International Bill of Rights . It had 18 members from various national, religious, and political backgrounds, so as to be representative of humanity. In February 1947, the Commission established a special Universal Declaration of Human Rights Drafting Committee , chaired by Eleanor Roosevelt of

1001-556: The Guinness Book of Records described the Declaration as the world's "Most Translated Document", with 298 translations; the record was once again certified a decade later when the text reached 370 different languages and dialects. The UDHR achieved a milestone of over 500 translations in 2016, and as of 2024, has been translated into 562 languages, remaining the most translated document. In its preamble, governments commit themselves and their people to progressive measures that secure

1078-541: The Christian Democracy movement ; Malik, a Christian theologian, was known for appealing across religious lines, and cited the Summa Theologica , and studied the different Christian sects. Chang urged removing all references to religion to make the document more universal, and used aspects of Confucianism to settle stalemates in negotiations. Hernán Santa Cruz of Chile, an educator and judge, strongly supported

1155-645: The ICCPR and ICESCR , which, together with the UDHR, form the International Bill of Rights. Pakistani diplomat Shaista Suhrawardy Ikramullah influenced the drafting of the Declaration, especially with respect to women's rights , and played a role in the preparation of the 1951 Genocide Convention. In 1982, the Iranian diplomat to the United Nations, who represented the country's newly installed Islamic republic , stated that

1232-824: The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination , the International Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women , the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child , the United Nations Convention Against Torture , and many more. The Declaration continues to be widely cited by governments, academics, advocates, and constitutional courts, and by individuals who appeal to its principles for

1309-650: The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights came into force, giving a legal status to most of the Declaration. The 48 countries that voted in favour of the Declaration are: Eight countries abstained: Two countries did not vote: Current UN member states , particularly in Africa gained sovereignty later, or in Europe and the Pacific were under administration due to the recently concluded World War II , joining

1386-646: The Islamic law ( sharīʿa ). Pakistan , officially an Islamic state , signed the declaration and critiqued the Saudi position, strongly arguing in favour of including freedom of religion as a fundamental human right of the UDHR. Moreover, some Muslim diplomats would later help draft other United Nations human rights treaties. For example, Iraq 's representative to the United Nations, Bedia Afnan 's insistence on wording that recognized gender equality resulted in Article 3 within

1463-432: The United Nations . Decadal commemorations are often accompanied by campaigns to promote awareness of the Declaration and of human rights in general. 2008 marked the 60th anniversary of the Declaration, and was accompanied by year-long activities around the theme "Dignity and justice for all of us". Likewise, the 70th anniversary in 2018 was marked by the global #StandUpForHumanRights campaign, which targeted youth. At

1540-629: The World Trade Organization (WTO) for NGOs around the world. In 2001, IATP created the Eat Well Guide, an online directory of sustainably raised meat, poultry, dairy and eggs available from North American farms, stores, restaurants and online merchants. In 2005, IATP published a critique of the U.S. food aid system for undercutting local food systems in poor countries. The WTO holds its sixth ministerial in Hong Kong. IATP helped to organize

1617-581: The history of human and civil rights , the Declaration consists of 30 articles detailing an individual's "basic rights and fundamental freedoms" and affirming their universal character as inherent, inalienable, and applicable to all human beings. Adopted as a "common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations", the UDHR commits nations to recognize all humans as being "born free and equal in dignity and rights" regardless of "nationality, place of residence, sex, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, language, or any other status". The Declaration

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1694-483: The right of citizens to leave their countries . Other observers pin the Soviet bloc's opposition to the Declaration's " negative rights ", such as provisions calling on governments not to violate certain civil and political rights. The British delegation, while voting in favour of the Declaration, expressed frustration that the proposed document had moral obligations but lacked legal force; it would not be until 1976 that

1771-628: The third session of the United Nations General Assembly , held 81 meetings concerning the draft Declaration, including debating and resolving 168 proposals for amendments by United Nations member states. On its 178th meeting on 6 December, the Third Committee adopted the Declaration with 29 votes in favour, none opposed and seven abstentions. The document was subsequently submitted to the wider General Assembly for its consideration on 9 and 10 December 1948. The Universal Declaration

1848-555: The "most ambitious feature". The Declaration was officially adopted as a French document, with official translations in English , Chinese , Russian and Spanish , all of which are official working languages of the UN . Due to its inherently universalist nature, the United Nations has made a concerted effort to translate the document into as many languages as possible, in collaboration with private and public entities and individuals. In 1999,

1925-625: The 1990s, IATP expanded beyond its initial focus on international policymaking institutions like the WTO, and regional free trade agreements like the North American Free Trade Agreement , to include the promotion of positive alternatives to economically, socially and environmentally destructive agricultural and trade practices. For example, with the Center for Agriculture and the Environment in

2002-748: The ALA Universal Right to Free Expression and the Library Bill of Rights . The Declaration formed the basis of the ALA's claim that censorship , invasion of privacy , and interference of opinions are human rights violations. During the creation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights the Soviet Union criticized not prioritizing social rights over individual rights and positive rights over negative rights enough according to Marxism–Leninism . Most Muslim-majority countries that were then members of

2079-473: The Congo, Gabon, Guinea, Haiti, Mali, Mauritania, Nicaragua, Niger, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Somalia, Spain, Togo, and Yemen. Moreover, the constitutions of Portugal , Romania , São Tomé and Príncipe, and Spain compel their courts to "interpret" constitutional norms consistently with the Universal Declaration. Judicial and political figures in many nations have directly invoked

2156-439: The Declaration "constitutes an obligation for the members of the international community" to all persons. The Declaration has served as the foundation for two binding United Nations human rights covenants: the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights . The principles of the Declaration are elaborated in other binding international treaties such as

2233-404: The Declaration "does not of its own force impose obligations as a matter of international law", and that the political branches of the U.S. federal government can "scrutinize" the nation's obligations to international instruments and their enforceability. However, U.S. courts and legislatures may still use the Declaration to inform or interpret laws concerned with human rights, a position shared by

2310-558: The Declaration by the United States Supreme Court; sixteen references by federal courts of appeal ; twenty-four references by federal district courts ; one reference by a bankruptcy court ; and several references by five state courts. Likewise, research conducted in 1994 identified 94 references to the Declaration by federal and state courts across the U.S. In 2004, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Sosa v. Alvarez-Machain that

2387-559: The Declaration forms part of customary international law and is a powerful tool in applying diplomatic and moral pressure to governments that violate its articles. One prominent international jurist described the UDHR as being "universally regarded as expounding generally accepted norms". Other legal scholars have further argued that the Declaration constitutes jus cogens , fundamental principles of international law from which no state may deviate or derogate . The 1968 United Nations International Conference on Human Rights advised that

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2464-541: The Declaration has been incorporated into or influenced most national constitutions since 1948. It has also served as the foundation for a growing number of national laws, international laws, and treaties, as well as for a growing number of regional, subnational, and national institutions protecting and promoting human rights. These kinds of measures focus on some principles that regard every culture/community especially when martial status take place or inheritance. In other words, every culture has its own norms and every individual

2541-702: The Declaration was "a secular understanding of the Judeo-Christian tradition" that could not be implemented by Muslims without conflict with sharīʿa law. On 30 June 2000, member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation , which represents most of the Muslim world, officially resolved to support the Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam , an alternative document that says people have "freedom and right to

2618-427: The Declaration's articles: Article 18 , which states that everyone has the right "to change his religion or belief", and Article 16, on equal marriage rights. The abstentions by the six communist nations were explained by their claim that the Declaration did not go far enough in condemning fascism and national-socialism. However, Eleanor Roosevelt felt that the reason for the abstentions was Article 13, which provided

2695-688: The Declaration, as well as the Covenant, to the Economic and Social Council for its review and approval during its seventh session in July and August 1948. The Council adopted Resolution 151(VII) of 26 August 1948, transmitting the draft International Declaration of Human Rights to the UN General Assembly. The Third Committee of the General Assembly , which convened from 30 September to 7 December 1948 during

2772-586: The Declaration. Upon the session's conclusion on 21 May 1948, the Committee submitted to the Commission on Human Rights a redrafted text of the "International Declaration of Human Rights" and the "International Covenant of Human Rights," which together would form an International Bill of Rights. The redrafted Declaration was further examined and discussed by the Commission on Human Rights in its third session in Geneva 21 May through 18 June 1948. The so-called "Geneva text"

2849-513: The Declaration—stated that it "may well become the international Magna Carta of all men everywhere". At the 1993 United Nations World Conference on Human Rights , one of the largest international gatherings on human rights, diplomats and officials representing 100 nations reaffirmed their governments' "commitment to the purposes and principles contained in the Charter of the United Nations and

2926-654: The Earth Summit, met in Rio de Janeiro; IATP co-hosted the Global Forum on the GATT at the summit. In 1995, IATP held a series of events nationwide with surviving founders of Bretton Woods and United Nations institutions, resulting in a [book of twenty essays] by the participants. In 1996, IATP formed Peace Coffee in partnership with Guatemala’s Nobel Peace Prize winner Rigoberta Menchú . In 1997, IATP incorporated TransFair USA,

3003-803: The Fair Trade Fair and Symposium near the WTO meeting, to highlight the fair trade system for WTO delegates. In 2006, IATP published a report, summarized in The New York Times , on the incidence of arsenic in U.S. poultry products. In 2008, John Nichols of The Nation designated IATP the "Most Valuable Policy Group" in his Most Valuable Progressives of 2008 list. and the Food and Society Fellows program moved to IATP, bringing together chefs, farmers, nutritionists, activists, public health professionals, fishers, policy experts and academics who work to create sustainable food systems . In 2009, IATP released

3080-733: The Netherlands, IATP developed tools to help U.S. farmers increase their income by reducing on-farm fertilizer use. Jim Harkness became IATP’s new president in 2006, after spending the previous 16 years in China, most recently as the Executive Director for the World Wildlife Fund in China. In 2014, Juliette Majot became the organization's third President, changing the title to Executive Director. Universal Declaration of Human Rights The Universal Declaration of Human Rights ( UDHR )

3157-531: The South American-based American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man , the world's first general international human rights instrument . Delegates and consultants from several United Nations bodies, international organizations, and nongovernmental organizations also attended and submitted suggestions. It was also hoped that an International Bill of Human Rights with legal force could be drafted and submitted for adoption alongside

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3234-650: The Soviet Union, and the United Kingdom , in addition to the inaugural members from China , France , Lebanon , and the United States . Humphrey is credited with devising the "blueprint" for the Declaration, while Cassin composed the first draft. Both received considerable input from other members, each of whom reflected different professional and ideological backgrounds. The Declaration's pro-family phrases allegedly derived from Cassin and Malik, who were influenced by

3311-504: The UDHR are incorporated or otherwise reflected in national law. The right to health or to protection of health is found in the constitutions of Belgium, Kyrgyzstan, Paraguay, Peru , Thailand , and Togo; constitutional obligations on the government to provide health services exist in Armenia , Cambodia , Ethiopia , Finland , South Korea , Kyrgyzstan, Paraguay, Thailand, and Yemen. A survey of U.S. cases through 1988 found five references to

3388-530: The UDHR as an influence or inspiration on their courts, constitutions, or legal codes. Indian courts have ruled the Indian Constitution "[embodies] most of the articles contained in the Declaration". Nations as diverse as Antigua, Chad, Chile, Kazakhstan, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Zimbabwe have derived constitutional and legal provisions from the Declaration. In some cases, specific provisions of

3465-716: The UDHR. Some organizations, such as the Quaker United Nations Office and the American Friends Service Committee have developed curriculum or programmes to educate young people on the UDHR. Specific provisions of the UDHR are cited or elaborated by interest groups in relation to their specific area of focus. In 1997, the council of the American Library Association (ALA) endorsed Articles 18 through 20 concerning freedoms of thought, opinion, and expression, which were codified in

3542-527: The United Nations signed the Declaration in 1948, including the kingdoms of Afghanistan , Egypt , and Iraq , Pahlavi Iran , and the First Syrian Republic ; the Republic of Turkey , which had an overwhelmingly Muslim population but an officially secular government , also voted in favour. Saudi Arabia was the sole abstainer on the Declaration among Muslim-majority countries, claiming that it violated

3619-525: The United States, to write the articles of the Declaration. Roosevelt, in her position, was key to the U.S. effort to encourage the General Assembly's adoption of a Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Committee met in two sessions over the course of two years . Canadian John Peters Humphrey , the newly appointed Director of the Division of Human Rights within the United Nations Secretariat,

3696-416: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights" and emphasized that the Declaration as "the source of inspiration and has been the basis for the United Nations in making advances in standard setting as contained in the existing international human rights instruments". In a speech on 5 October 1995, Pope John Paul II called the Declaration "one of the highest expressions of the human conscience of our time", despite

3773-462: The Universal Declaration was influenced by the Code Napoléon , including a preamble and introductory general principles. Its final structure took form in the second draft prepared by French jurist René Cassin , who worked on the initial draft prepared by Canadian legal scholar John Peters Humphrey . The Declaration consists of the following: Cassin compared the Declaration to the portico of

3850-451: The Universal Declaration, are at least inspired by it". At least 20 African nations that attained independence in the decades immediately following 1948 explicitly referenced the UDHR in their constitutions. As of 2014, the constitutions that still directly cite the Declaration are those of Afghanistan, Benin, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Chad, Comoros, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of

3927-590: The Vatican never adopting it. In a statement on 10 December 2003 on behalf of the European Union , Marcello Spatafora said that the Declaration "placed human rights at the centre of the framework of principles and obligations shaping relations within the international community". As a pillar of international human rights, the UDHR enjoys widespread support among international and nongovernmental organizations. The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), one of

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4004-450: The approval of the General Assembly by formal vote of its members, and to serve as a common standard of achievement for all peoples of all nations. The UDHR is considered groundbreaking for providing a comprehensive and universal set of principles in a secular, apolitical document that explicitly transcends cultures, religions, legal systems, and political ideologies. Its claim to universality has been described as "boundlessly idealistic" and

4081-710: The comments and suggestions of member states and international bodies, principally the United Nations Conference on Freedom of Information, which took place the prior March and April; the Commission on the Status of Women, a body within ECOSOC that reported on the state of women's rights worldwide; and the Ninth International Conference of American States, held in Bogota, Colombia from March to May 1948, which adopted

4158-408: The contents of the UDHR have been elaborated and incorporated into subsequent international treaties , regional human rights instruments, and national constitutions and legal codes. All 193 member states of the United Nations have ratified at least one of the nine binding treaties influenced by the Declaration, with the vast majority ratifying four or more. While there is a wide consensus that

4235-407: The courts of Belgium, the Netherlands, India, and Sri Lanka. The Universal Declaration has received praise from a number of notable activists, jurists, and political leaders. Lebanese philosopher and diplomat Charles Malik called it "an international document of the first order of importance", while Eleanor Roosevelt —first chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) that helped draft

4312-453: The debates and discussions that informed the UDHR, describing one such exchange during the Drafting Committee's first session in June 1947: Dr. Chang was a pluralist and held forth in charming fashion on the proposition that there is more than one kind of ultimate reality. The Declaration, he said, should reflect more than simply Western ideas and Dr. Humphrey would have to be eclectic in his approach. His remark, though addressed to Dr. Humphrey,

4389-486: The declaration itself is non-binding and not part of customary international law , there is also a consensus in most countries that many of its provisions are part of customary law , although courts in some nations have been more restrictive on its legal effect. Nevertheless, the UDHR has influenced legal, political, and social developments on both the global and national levels, with its significance partly evidenced by its 530 translations. The underlying structure of

4466-502: The environment, while promoting a fair trade system that supports locally based development, labor and human rights , and democratic institutions. IATP develops alternative economic models that integrate environmental sustainability into rural development . In 1987,IATP launched the Sustainable Agriculture Computer Network with email, access to shared data and research, news wire services, electronic conferencing and bulletin boards. In 1990, IATP distributed Trading Away Our Future ,

4543-483: The first U.S. fair-trade certification body. In 1998, IATP marked its 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights with an event in New York City with Jesse Jackson , John Sweeney and others. In 2000, with six other groups, IATP launched Genetically Engineered Food Alert to challenge the use of genetically engineered crops in food. During the same year, IATP launched Trade Information Project in Geneva to serve as an information clearinghouse on

4620-419: The inclusion of socioeconomic rights, which had been opposed by some Western nations. The members agreed that the philosophical debate centered between the opposing opinions of Chang and Malik, with Malik later singling out Chang when thanking the members, saying that there were too many to mention, but Chang's ideas impacted his own opinions in the making of the draft. In her memoirs, Roosevelt commented on

4697-424: The individual, such as the right to life and the prohibition of slavery. The second column (articles 12–17) constitutes the rights of the individual in civil and political society. The third column (articles 18–21) is concerned with spiritual, public, and political freedoms, such as freedom of religion and freedom of association. The fourth column (articles 22–27) sets out social, economic, and cultural rights. Finally,

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4774-409: The last three articles provide the pediment which binds the structure together, as they emphasize the mutual duties of every individual to one another and to society. During World War II , the Allies —known formally as the United Nations —adopted as their basic war aims the Four Freedoms : freedom of speech , freedom of religion , freedom from fear , and freedom from want . Towards the end of

4851-405: The mission of fostering sustainable rural communities. In 1987, IATP began to organize and report on the newly launched round of international trade negotiations being conducted by the GATT, which eventually became the WTO. The rules of agricultural trade set in the GATT and implemented at the WTO have deeply influenced national and local farm policies around the globe over the last two decades. In

4928-459: The oldest human rights organizations, has as its core mandate the promotion of the respect for all rights set out in the Declaration, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights , and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights . Amnesty International , the third oldest international human rights organization, has regularly observed Human Rights Day and organized worldwide events to bring awareness and support of

5005-424: The organization later, which accounts for the comparatively smaller number of states who participated in the historic vote. 10 December, the anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration, is celebrated annually as World Human Rights Day or International Human Rights Day. The commemoration is observed by individuals, community and religious groups, human rights organizations, parliaments, governments, and

5082-408: The protection of their recognized human rights. According to a 2022 study, the UDHR "significantly accelerated the adoption of a particular set of [national] constitutional rights". One scholar estimates that at least 90 national constitutions drafted since the Declaration's adoption in 1948 "contain statements of fundamental rights which, where they do not faithfully reproduce the provisions of

5159-468: The time of the Declaration's adoption by the General Assembly in 1948, Eleanor Roosevelt said: In giving our approval to the declaration today, it is of primary importance that we keep clearly in mind the basic character of the document. It is not a treaty; it is not an international agreement. It is not and does not purport to be a statement of law or of legal obligation. It is a declaration of basic principles of human rights and freedoms, to be stamped with

5236-406: The universal and effective recognition and observance of the human rights set out in the Declaration. Eleanor Roosevelt supported the adoption of the text as a declaration, rather than as a treaty, because she believed that it would have the same kind of influence on global society as the United States Declaration of Independence had within the United States. Even though it is not legally binding,

5313-432: The war, the United Nations Charter was debated, drafted, and ratified to reaffirm "faith in fundamental human rights , and dignity and worth of the human person" and commit all member states to promote "universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion." When the atrocities committed by Nazi Germany became fully apparent after

5390-426: The war, the consensus within the world community was that the UN Charter did not sufficiently define the rights to which it referred. It was deemed necessary to create a universal declaration that specified the rights of individuals so as to give effect to the Charter's provisions on human rights . In June 1946, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)—a principal organ of the newly founded United Nations that

5467-399: The world, owing to her ability to appeal to different and often opposing political blocs. The meeting record provides firsthand insight into the debate on the Declaration's adoption. South Africa 's position can be seen as an attempt to protect its system of apartheid , which clearly violated several articles in the Declaration. Saudi Arabia 's abstention was prompted primarily by two of

5544-460: Was Smuts who inserted the word dignity as a human right into the charter. Despite te Water's efforts, the word dignity was included in the declaration as a human right. With a vote of 12 in favour, none opposed, and four abstaining, the CHR approved the proposed Declaration, though was unable to examine the contents and implementation of the proposed Covenant. The Commission forwarded the approved text of

5621-444: Was adopted by the General Assembly as UN Resolution A/RES/217(III)[A] on 10 December 1948 in the Palais de Chaillot , Paris. Of the 58 United Nations members at the time, 48 voted in favour, none against, eight abstained , and Honduras and Yemen failed to vote or abstain. Eleanor Roosevelt is credited with having been instrumental in mustering support for the Declaration's adoption, both in her native U.S. and across

5698-559: Was called upon by the UN Secretary-General to work on the project, becoming the Declaration's principal drafter. Other prominent members of the Drafting Committee included Vice-Chairman P.C. Chang of the Republic of China , René Cassin of France; and its Committee Rapporteur Charles Malik of Lebanon . A month after its creation, the Drafting Committee was expanded to include representatives of Australia, Chile, France,

5775-457: Was circulated among member states and subject to several proposed amendments; for example, Hansa Mehta of India notably suggested that the Declaration assert that "all human beings are created equal," instead of "all men are created equal," to better reflect gender equality. Charles Theodore Te Water of South Africa fought very hard to have the word dignity removed from the declaration, saying that "dignity had no universal standard and that it

5852-402: Was not a 'right'." Te Water believed—correctly, as it turned out—that listing human dignity as a human right would lead to criticism of the apartheid system that had just been introduced by the new National Party government of South Africa. Malik in response stated that Prime Minister Jan Smuts of South Africa had played an important role in drafting the United Nations Charter in 1945, and it

5929-519: Was really directed at Dr. Malik, from whom it drew a prompt retort as he expounded at some length the philosophy of Thomas Aquinas . Dr. Humphrey joined enthusiastically in the discussion, and I remember that at one point Dr. Chang suggested that the Secretariat might well spend a few months studying the fundamentals of Confucianism! In May 1948, roughly a year after its creation, the Drafting Committee held its second and final session, where it considered

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