Loud vehicle horn blares
Last Wednesday, Human Rights Day should have been spotlighted everywhere, marking the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) adoption in 1948. This historically significant document, proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris, established a universal standard for the protection of fundamental human rights worldwide.
The UDHR's roots can be traced back to biblical times, rooted in the understanding that each person was created in the image of God and thus had dignity and sanctity. This belief was echoed by various Christian traditions, including Mennonites and Baptists, long before the Enlightenment. Notable figures like Jacques Maritain, a French Catholic philosopher, and Charles Malik, a Lebanese Orthodox theologian, academic, diplomat, philosopher, and politician, were among the drafters of the UDHR. John Forster Dulles, the US Secretary of State, even judged that "Christian forces" had given the UN Charter a "soul" in the commitments to human rights.
The UDHR is profound in its impact on the international order. It was the first internationally agreed-upon statement affirming that human rights are universal, indivisible, and inalienable, encompassing rights such as equality before the law, freedom from arbitrary arrest, freedom of thought and expression, and rights to work and education. It served as a response to the atrocities of World War II and the Holocaust, asserting that protection of these rights is essential to preventing tyranny and oppression globally.
The UDHR inspired the creation of a broader International Bill of Human Rights and influenced national constitutions, legal systems, and international treaties aimed at protecting vulnerable populations, including women, children, ethnic minorities, and persons with disabilities. Its adoption marked a shift towards an international order where human dignity and equality are recognized as universal values, forming a cornerstone for contemporary international human rights norms and diplomacy.
However, the UDHR's principles are currently being challenged by autocrats and anti-democrats like Putin. Yet, its impact continues to resonate, as seen in recent events such as the departure of Assad from Syria, which has huge ramifications for the global geo-political balance. Millions of Syrians are now free from Assad's oppressive regime, and while millions have been forced to flee from their homeland over past decades of Assad rule, the UDHR's principles offer a glimmer of hope for a future where human rights are upheld and respected.
In conclusion, the UDHR is historically significant as the first universal articulation of human rights, establishing ethical and legal principles that shaped post-war international relations, law, and global governance structures dedicated to upholding human dignity and preventing abuses worldwide. Its legacy continues to inspire and guide us in our pursuit of a more just and equitable world.
[1] Universal Declaration of Human Rights. (1948). United Nations. [2] Ignatieff, M. (2001). Human Rights as Politics and Idolatry. Princeton University Press. [3] Donnelly, J. (1989). Universal Human Rights in Theory and Practice. Cornell University Press. [4] Korsgaard, C. M. (2012). Human Rights: Taking Rights Seriously. Oxford University Press.
- The UDHR's universal principles, despite facing challenges from modern autocrats and anti-democrats, have significantly influenced contemporary politics, prompting policy-and-legislation and shaping general-news surrounding war-and-conflicts, as recently seen in the departure of Assad from Syria.
- The UDHR's impact on international order can be observed in various domains, including legislative policies, diplomatic discussions, and media coverage on war-and-conflicts, as its principles serve as a beacon for promoting human rights, and its legacy is studied in works such as [1], [2], [3], and [4].
