1948: The UN adopts the Universal Human Rights

On 10 December 1948 the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was accepted as a common standard by a majority of the General Assembly of the United Nations. It had been drafted by a team in which Canadian, French, Lebanese and Chinese jurists and philosophers played a significant role, presided over by  Eleanor Roosevelt, the widow of the US president. Since its formal adoption, many other states have adopted the Declaration without ceremony in unspoken (“implied”) agreement on becoming members of the UN.

The Declaration contains civic and political rights as well as economic, social and cultural rights. The 30 articles begin with a commitment to freedom, equality of human dignity and the spirit of brotherhood, and the prohibition of any form of discrimination in regard to the rights set out in the Declaration. Limitations to the rights are only permitted when determined by law and under certain conditions, when limitations are necessary in order to secure the rights and freedoms of others.

The two human rights covenants of 1966 made these rights binding for their contracting parties (Civil Covenant 173, Social Covenant 171). As the most important human rights document of the United Nations, since 2007 the Declaration has played an important role in the regular monitoring of how UN member states uphold human rights.