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The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

The document discusses the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It notes that while the Declaration aims to establish global human rights standards, it has not been fully successful due to some nations not respecting basic human rights. The document also discusses the strengths of clearly outlining human rights, but acknowledges it is non-binding. It agrees with the former UN High Commissioner that world leaders are failing to defend basic human rights. It identifies Articles 1 and 3, guaranteeing equal dignity/rights and life/liberty/security, as the most important as they establish the overall objectives of equality and justice.

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60 views5 pages

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

The document discusses the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It notes that while the Declaration aims to establish global human rights standards, it has not been fully successful due to some nations not respecting basic human rights. The document also discusses the strengths of clearly outlining human rights, but acknowledges it is non-binding. It agrees with the former UN High Commissioner that world leaders are failing to defend basic human rights. It identifies Articles 1 and 3, guaranteeing equal dignity/rights and life/liberty/security, as the most important as they establish the overall objectives of equality and justice.

Uploaded by

David kamunge
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The Universal Declaration of Human Rights – 330

Student’s Name

University Affiliation

Course Name

Professor’s Name

Assignment Due Date


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The Universal Declaration of Human Rights – 330

What do you think is the purpose of the Declaration of Human Rights? Is it effective?

The goal of the Declaration of Human Rights is to achieve higher living standards for

everybody (UNOHCHR, 2017). It is intended to be a global document that identifies a global

standard for how all people should be treated, regardless of minor distinctions. I have to state that

I do not believe it is successful, at least not globally. There are several nations whose rulers

regard themselves as a superior entity, allowing them to treat people anyway they see fit, even if

it violates basic human rights. Individuals living in these areas have to battle just to survive.

What are its strengths and weaknesses?

One of the article's advantages is that it lays out clearly what human rights are and how

they should be upheld. Because several nations are members of the UN, it is a strength that the

document was approved by the UN general assembly on December 10, 1948. But even in its

flaw, there is strength (UNOHCHR, 2017). It is more of a file that exists as more of a suggestion

that sits over the chiefs of all nations because it is associated with something as significant as the

General Assembly.

Do you agree with the former U. N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad al-

Hussein that our world leaders are failing to defend these basic human rights? Why or why

not?

I completely agree with Zeid Ra'ad since there are so many attacks or refusals by

governments to respect their citizens' fundamental human rights. He compares human rights to

the oxygen we breathe, saying that they exist but we don't think about them until our final breath.

This is precisely what I was attempting to indicate before, that this treaty of basic human rights
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simply hovers over our heads and rarely means anything until it's too late (NewYorkTimes,

2019). 

Choose two Articles that you think are among the most important in the Declaration.

Explain what these mean to you and why you think they are important

The two articles that mean the most to me are the first one, which states that "all human

beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights," and the second one, which states that

"Everyone has the right to life, liberty, and security of person (United Nations, 2022)." These, in

my opinion, are the most crucial since, when considering the other items, they may be seen as the

overall objective. This implies to me that everyone is created equal, that there are no inherent

distinctions among us, and that we should all be considered equal.

What moral/ethical principles and theories are reflected in the Articles you

chose?

Justice is the ethical concept at work in these two essays. Justice is the equitable and

suitable treatment of all people (United Nations, 2022). I believe that everyone should be treated

equally and held accountable on the same terms, depending on the circumstances.

For which real-world issues in our modern society do the Articles you chose have relevance

and applicability? Be specific.

In the second question, I noted the riots and protests that have happened or are occurring

in the United States and South Africa. This is related to the third article, "Everyone has the rights

to life, liberty, and personal security (United Nations, 2022)." Every person has the right to these

three things, but those freedoms should not be abused or used to undermine the rights of others. I

believe it is challenging because, while these principles are declared to represent universal rights,

the way they are understood truly varies depending on the situation.
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References

UNOHCHR. (2017, May 15). Universal declaration of human rights. YouTube. Retrieved

September 20, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RR4VXNX3jA

NewYorkTimes. (2019, May 6). World leaders are failing human rights. here's why. | NYT

opinion. YouTube. Retrieved September 20, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=8Dp8t-0HR-o

United Nations. (2022). Universal declaration of human rights. United Nations. Retrieved

September 20, 2022, from https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-

human-rights

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