By Gary Raynaldo       DIPLOMATIC TIMES

(UNITED NATIONS -NEW YORK)  The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a ground breaking historic document that was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly at its third session on 10 December 1948 as Resolution 217 at the Palais de Chaillot in Paris, France.  It has been called one of the most important documents of the 20th Century. The UDHR is a milestone document in the history of human rights that was drafted by representatives with different legal and cultural backgrounds from all regions of the world. It sets out, for the first time, fundamental human rights to be universally protected and it has been translated into more than 500 languages. As part of UDHR 70th anniversary celebrations, the UN opened an exhibit at the world body’s New York headquarters Thursday Dec. 6, 2018. The exhibit highlights the little known, but important roles played by women delegates in shaping the document.

“Over the past seven decades, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights has had a revolutionary impact. The Declaration is universal not only in its very nature but also in its reach. It has unleashed the power women’s full participation and spurred the fight against discrimination and racism.” United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, Dec. 6, 2018.

However, the U.N. Secretary-General acknowledged that “we still have a long way to go before respect for human rights is truly universal.” The words of the Declaration are not yet matched by facts on the ground, Guterres observed. “In practice, people all over the world still endure constraints on – or even total denial – of their human rights.” The Secretary-General stated that lasting peace and inclusive sustainable development can never be achieved without full respect for human rights. “So, ladies and gentlemen, on this anniversary, let us not only reflect on the enduring importance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, let us also speak out and stand up for human rights everywhere,” U.N. Secretary-General Guterres concluded.

WOMEN PLAYED IMPORTANT ROLE IN CRAFTING THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION 

“I am truly honored to be here today and to help honor those women who wrote the Universal Delcaration. Women such as Eleanor Roosevelt who was chair of the drafting committee and is recognized as the  driving force for the adoption of the declaration. Women such as  Hansa Mehta (from India) who changed the phrase ‘All men are born free and equal’  to ‘All human beings are born free and equal.’  What a big change… what importance this has nowadays.” María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, President of the UN General Assembly

HIGHLIGHT OF UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS:

Article I

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Article 2

Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, 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. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.

Article 3

Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

Article 4

No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.

Article 5

No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.