Loud vehicle horns blaring
In the heart of Amsterdam, two Sundays ago, a convoy of cars adorned with Syrian flags drove through the city centre, marking a significant turning point in the country's history. On the same day, Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian dictator, was forced to flee. This event, while largely unnoticed on Human Rights Day last Wednesday, is a poignant reminder of the importance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
The UDHR, proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on December 10, 1948, stands as a cornerstone for the global promotion and protection of human dignity and rights. This foundational document, the most translated in the world, emerged in the aftermath of the Second World War and the Holocaust, with the intent to establish a common standard of human rights to prevent such atrocities from recurring.
The concept of human rights has deep roots in ancient and medieval traditions, including Jewish and Christian scriptures, Roman law, and the European natural law tradition. Enlightenment thinkers such as John Locke contributed to the development of natural rights, which influenced modern human rights ideas. After World War II, international efforts, including those led by UNESCO and the UN, sought to codify these fundamental human rights on a universal scale.
The UDHR sets out a broad catalogue of political, civil, economic, social, and cultural rights, such as equality before the law, freedom of thought, protection from arbitrary arrest, right to work, education, and an adequate standard of living. It is not a binding treaty but serves as a common standard and has influenced numerous international treaties, national constitutions, and laws. The UDHR’s principles underpin the International Bill of Human Rights and have legal and moral weight worldwide, frequently cited by courts and international bodies for human rights compliance.
The origins of the UDHR are intertwined with the efforts of individuals from various religious backgrounds. The initiative for the UDHR was led by Christians, including Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant individuals. Charles Malik, a Lebanese Orthodox theologian, was another drafter of the UDHR and questioned the source of human rights, suggesting they are inalienable and grounded in a Supreme Being. Jacques Maritain, a French Catholic philosopher, also played a significant role in the drafting process and influenced the Catholic Church's embrace of the human rights cause.
The roots of human rights can be traced back to minority Christian traditions, such as Mennonites and Baptists, who were among the first to articulate the cause of freedom of religion and conscience. However, the Roman Catholic Church anathematized the concept of 'human rights' under Pope Pius IX in reaction to the anti-church policies of the French Revolution and its Declaration of the Rights of Man.
Today, human rights remain the cornerstone of the international order, currently facing challenges from autocrats like Putin, who disregards human life. The departure of Assad has significant ramifications for the global geo-political balance, and millions of Syrians are now free from his oppressive regime. The Declaration of Human Rights is rooted in the understanding that each person was created in the image of God and has dignity and sanctity. Without biblical foundations, there are no grounds for human rights.
Jeff Fountain, Director of the Schuman Centre for European Studies, authored this article, first published on his blog, Weekly Word. The article was later republished in Evangelical Focus under the title "Window on Europe - Honking Horns." The UDHR, despite its origins dating back centuries, continues to be a beacon of hope amidst global turmoil, reminding us of the importance of upholding human dignity and rights for all.
[1] Universal Declaration of Human Rights. (1948). United Nations General Assembly. [2] Kymlicka, W. (2012). A Short History of Human Rights. Oxford University Press. [3] Ignatieff, M. (2001). The Warrior's Honor: Ethnic War and the Modern Conscience. Penguin Books. [4] UNESCO. (n.d.). Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Retrieved from https://en.unesco.org/udhr/ [5] United Nations. (n.d.). The Evolution of Human Rights. Retrieved from https://www.un.org/en/sections/un-charter/evolution-human-rights/index.html
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), an influential document written in 1948 by the United Nations General Assembly, serves as a guiding force for ensuring human dignity and rights in the face of ongoing conflicts like war-and-conflicts. This Declaration, rooted in ancient traditions, the Enlightenment, and the aftermath of World War II, has not only impacted policy-and-legislation globally but also underpins general-news discourse when discussing human rights violations and geo-political repercussions.
The departure of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, while significant for regional politics, is a painful yet poignant reminder of the importance of the UDHR in promoting and safeguarding human rights, emphasizing the need for a universal standard that ensures dignity and protection for all, a principle the UDHR embodies with its foundation in divine origin.
