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Fact Sheets

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations, with Australia's support, in the aftermath of the second world war in 1948. The UDHR recognises that if people are to be treated with dignity, they require economic rights, social rights including education, and the rights to cultural and political participation and civil liberty.

Article 2 states that everyone is entitled to these rights "without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status."

Other articles include:

Article 1

All people are born free and equal and should behave with respect to each other.

Article 3

Everyone has a right to live in freedom and safety.

Article 5

No one should be tortured, or punished in a cruel way.

Article 7

Laws must not treat people differently because of their race, sex or way of life.

Article 8

Everyone has a right to legal protection if their rights are ignored.

Article 14

People have the right to ask for asylum in another country, if they fear persecution. A person loses the right to ask for asylum if he or she has committed a serious non-political crime, and has not respected the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Article 15

Everyone has the right to a nationality.

Article 21

Everyone has a right to take part in the government of his or her country, whether by voting or being an elected Member of Parliament. Fair elections should be held regularly, and everyone's vote is equal.

Article 25

Everyone has the right to a decent standard of living. Those who cannot work should receive special help. All children, whether born outside marriage or not, have the same right.

Article 26

Everyone has the right to education. Primary education should be free and compulsory. A person should be able to continue his or her studies as far as he or she is able. Education should help a person live with and respect other people. Parents have the right to choose the kind of education that will be given to their child.

Article 29

A person has responsibilities to other people. A person's rights and freedoms should be limited only so far as to protect the rights of others.

Article 30

No government, group, or person may ignore the rights set out in the Universal declaration of Human Rights.

Although the UDHR is not legally binding on member states of the United Nations it has great moral force. It describes the conditions to which all nations should aspire.

Derived from:
Racism. no way. Doc 2 Australian legislation and international law relating to racial discrimination
Austcare Australians Caring for Refugees 1999 Teachers' Kit Notes
International treaties and declarations can be accessed through the United Nations Human Rights web page.

Refer also to The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) fact sheets which aim to assist university students, senior high school students and their teachers to understand human rights.