Universal Declaration of Human Rights |
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (also UDHR) is a declaration adopted by the
United Nations General Assembly
(A/RES/217, December 10, 1948),
outlining basic human rights. John Peters Humphrey of Canada was its principal
drafter.
While it is not a legally binding document, it served as the foundation for the original two legally-binding UN human rights
Covenants, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural
Rights. It continues to be widely cited by academics, advocates, and constitutional courts. International lawyers often
debate which of its provisions can be said to represent customary
international law. Opinions vary widely on this question, from
very few provisions to the entire declaration.
According to the Guinness Book of World
Records, the UDHR is the document translated into the most languages on Earth.
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