An important document

This December (10th to be exact) we, as a world, can celebrate the 60th anniversary of the adoption by the United Nations of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

And celebrate we should.

Although most people haven’t read the document (I assume, since I hadn’t until earlier today), it is the document translated into the most languages in the world, surpassing the Bible (to my surprise).  Essentially it should be adopted and followed by every member of the United Nations (192 countries).

So what does it say?

The Preamble is fairly straightforward, declaring that everyone is important and should be respected by the declaration:

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

I clipped only the first and last since I think they best emphasize the point of the document, although the “common understanding” still has yet to be achieved.

The document is then divided into thirty articles, each emphasizing a different right that all should be entitled to.  So here is my executive summary:

1. Everyone is born free, has freedom and conscience and should play nice with others
2. Everyone is entitled to the rights of this document (no discrimination)
3. Life, liberty, security of the person
4. Slavery is illegal
5. No cruel or unusual punishment
6. Everyone should be treated as a person before the law
7. All are equal before the law
8. Everyone can appeal to their nation when their constitutional rights are violated
9. No arbitrary arrests/detentions
10. Fair/public hearings in front of independent/impartial jury
11. Innocent until proved guilty
12. No arbitrarily interfering with privacy, family, home, correspondence or attaching honour or reputation
13. Freedom to move and live in each state and the ability to leave and return to any country
14. Asylum in other countries except for non-political crimes or those contrary to the UN
15. Right to a nationality and the ability to change
16. The right to marry freely, and families are protected (no definitions)
17. Right to own property (singularly or collectively) and cannot be deprived
18. Freedom of thought, conscience and religion, freedom to change belief and to “manifest” religion/practise/etc.
19. Freedom of opinion and expression and to seek/receive information through any media
20. Peaceful assembly and association, no forced joining of associations
21. Right to take part in government (via reps or directly), equal access to public service, and democracy
22. Social security and the ability to be the best you can
23. Choice of work, favourable conditions, unemployment protection, equal pay (for equal work), can form unions
24. Rest and leisure, limited work hours and holiday pay
25. Protection from circumstances beyond control (health, disability, old age, unemployment, etc.), motherhood and childhood get special care
26. Free, mandatory education through elementary, affordable technical and professional education, parents can choose education for children
27. Enjoy the culture, arts and science of community, and intellectual property rights
28. Social and international order
29. Freedoms only limited by laws which secure rights and freedoms of others, no overruling any rights that are contrary to the UN principles
30. You can’t use anything in this document to infringe upon others rights that are guaranteed in here.

Basically, I have to agree with all of them, and most would.  Some disagree with the education fronts, and some libertarians disagree about the amount of social security people should be provided with.

Of late we’ve seen a lot of attacks on free speech, and without remembering this Declaration we stand to lose the most important freedoms that we’ve fought long and hard (intellectually and militarily) to earn and defend.