What is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)?

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is the most widely accepted statement of human rights in the world. Its core message is the inherent value of every human being.

The Declaration was adopted without dissent on 10 December 1948 by the United Nations General Assembly (although 8 nations did abstain) as "a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations".

It sets out a list of basic rights for everyone in the world whatever their ethnicity, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. It proclaims that "every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights".

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was formally reaffirmed by the governments of the world in 1993, 2000 and 2005, and is now arguably part of international customary law.

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