On this day in 1948, the United Nations General Assembly, meeting at the Palais de Chaillot in Paris, adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The declaration marks the first global statement of rights to which all persons are inherently entitled. It consists of 30 articles that have acquired the force of law through subsequent international treaties, regional human rights instruments, national constitutions and other statutes.
The commission that drafted the document was chaired by Eleanor Roosevelt, the widow of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
In all, 48 nations voted in favor and none against. Eight abstained: six communist nations, led by the Soviet Union, plus South Africa and Saudi Arabia. Pakistan, which signed the declaration, disagreed and critiqued the Saudi position, as did Turkey, a predominantly Muslim nation. Honduras and Yemen, both members of the U.N., failed to either vote or abstain.
Eleanor Roosevelt attributed the abstention of the Soviet bloc nations to Article 13, which provided for the right of citizens to leave their countries. In abstaining, South Africa sought to protect its apartheid policies, which violated several articles.
The Saudi abstention was based on its claim that the declaration violated Sharia law. In particular, the kingdom objected to Article 18, which states that everyone has the right “to change his religion or belief”; and to Article 16, which states in part that “men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.”
In 2000, members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, voted to support the Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam. This alternative document states that people have the “freedom and right to a dignified life in accordance with the Islamic [Sharia law] ... ”
SOURCE: WWW.UN.ORG
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Now, let's delve into the information related to the article about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948.
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Date and Location: The declaration was adopted on December 10, 1948, at the Palais de Chaillot in Paris.
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Nature of the Declaration: It marks the first global statement of rights to which all persons are inherently entitled, consisting of 30 articles.
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Force of Law: The 30 articles have acquired the force of law through subsequent international treaties, regional human rights instruments, national constitutions, and other statutes.
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Drafting Commission and Chairperson: The commission that drafted the document was chaired by Eleanor Roosevelt, the widow of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
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Voting Statistics: In total, 48 nations voted in favor, with none against. Eight nations abstained, including six communist nations (led by the Soviet Union), South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Honduras, and Yemen.
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Reasons for Abstention:
- Soviet bloc nations abstained due to concerns related to Article 13, which provided for the right of citizens to leave their countries.
- South Africa abstained to protect its apartheid policies, which violated several articles.
- Saudi Arabia abstained based on its claim that the declaration violated Sharia law, specifically objecting to Article 18 and Article 16.
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Criticisms and Alternative Declarations:
- Pakistan, despite signing the declaration, disagreed and critiqued the Saudi position.
- Turkey, a predominantly Muslim nation, also critiqued the Saudi position.
- In 2000, members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation voted to support the Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam, an alternative document aligning with Islamic Sharia law.
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