Universal Declaration of Human Rights PRESIDENCY COLLEGE

UDHR UDHR is a declaration adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 10 December 1948 at Palais de Chaillot at Paris. The Declaration arose directly from the experience of the Second World War and represents the first global expression of rights to which all human beings are inherently entitled. PRESIDENCY COLLEGE

Canadian John Peters Humphrey was called upon by the United Nations Secretary-General to work on the project and became the Declaration's principal drafter. Rene Cassin received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1968 for his work in drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 10 December 1948. That same year, he was also awarded one of the UN's own Human Rights Prizes PRESIDENCY COLLEGE

International Human Rights Day 10 December is known as Human Rights Day or International Human Rights Day. 2008 marked the 60th anniversary of the Declaration and was accompanied by year-long activities around the theme "Dignity and justice for all of us". PRESIDENCY COLLEGE

Significance The Guinness Book of Records describes the UDHR as the "Most Translated Document“ in the world. It has also served as the foundation for a growing number of national laws, international laws, and treaties, as well as regional, national, and sub-national institutions protecting and promoting human rights. PRESIDENCY COLLEGE

Article 1 Right to Equality. Article 2 Freedom from Discrimination. Article 3 Right to Life, Liberty, Personal Security Article 4 Freedom from Slavery Article 5 Freedom from Torture and Degrading Treatment Article 6 Right to Recognition as a Person before the Law Article 7 Right to Equality before the Law PRESIDENCY COLLEGE

Article 8 Right to Remedy by Competent Tribunal Article 9 Freedom from Arbitrary Arrest and Exile Article 10 Right to Fair Public Hearing Article 11 Right to be Considered Innocent until Proven Guilty Article 12 Freedom from Interference with Privacy, Family, Home and Correspondence Article 13 Right to Free Movement in and out of the Country PRESIDENCY COLLEGE

Article 14 Right to Asylum in other Countries from Persecution Article 15 Right to a Nationality and the Freedom to Change It Article 16 Right to Marriage and Family Article 17 Right to Own Property Article 18 Freedom of Belief and Religion Article 19 Freedom of Opinion and Information Article 20 Right of Peaceful Assembly and Association. PRESIDENCY COLLEGE

Article 21 Right to Participate in Government and in Free Elections Article 22 Right to Social Security Article 23 Right to Desirable Work and to Join Trade Unions Article 24 Right to Rest and Leisure Article 25 Right to Adequate Living Standard Article 26 Right to Education PRESIDENCY COLLEGE

Article 27 Right to Participate in the Cultural Life of Community Article 28 Right to a Social Order that Articulates this Document Article 29 Community Duties Essential to Free and Full Development Article 30 Freedom from State or Personal Interference in the above Rights PRESIDENCY COLLEGE

UNITED NATIONS AND HUMAN RIGHTS (UNHR) The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) is a United Nations System inter-governmental body whose 47 member states are responsible for promoting and protecting human rights around the world. PRESIDENCY COLLEGE

The UNHRC is the successor to the UN Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR, herein CHR), and is a subsidiary body of the UN General Assembly. The council works closely with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and engages the United Nations' special procedures PRESIDENCY COLLEGE

The General Assembly established the UNHRC by adopting a resolution (A/RES/60/251) on 15 March 2006, in order to replace the previous CHR, which had been heavily criticized for allowing countries with poor human rights records to be members. PRESIDENCY COLLEGE

The UNHRC has addressed conflicts including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and also addresses rights-related situations in countries such as in Burma, Guinea, North Korea, Côte d'Ivoire, Kyrgyzstan, Syria, Libya, Iran, and Sri Lanka. The UNHRC also addresses important thematic human rights issues such as freedom of association and assembly, freedom of expression, freedom of belief and religion, women's rights, LGBT rights, and the rights of racial and ethnic minorities. PRESIDENCY COLLEGE

UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES (UNHCR) The Office of the United NationHighCommissioner for Refugees was established on December 14, 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly. PRESIDENCY COLLEGE

UNOPS contract holders (15) and International Interns (2) Total: 72 UNHCR Presence in IndiaOffices: Country Office in New Delhi and Field Office in Chennai Total: 2 Staff: National staff (27), International staff (7), United Nations Volunteers (21), UNOPS contract holders (15) and International Interns (2) Total: 72 PRESIDENCY COLLEGE

HUMAN RIGHTS OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN Both the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) call upon States Parties to take measures particularly in the private sphere to eliminate discrimination and achieve substantive equality. PRESIDENCY COLLEGE

The United Nation's Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is a comprehensive, internationally binding agreement on the rights of children. The convention is separated into 54 articles: most give social, economic, cultural or civil and political rights to children and young people, while others set out how governments must publicise or implement the convention. PRESIDENCY COLLEGE

The UNCRC is the most widely ratified international human rights instrument. All children and young people up to the age of 18 years have all the rights under the convention. PRESIDENCY COLLEGE

The Committee for the Rights of the Child is a UN body of 18 independent experts on child rights from around the world. Members are elected for a term of four years by States parties in accordance with article 43 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. PRESIDENCY COLLEGE

International Bill of Human Rights

1966 International Covenants on Human Rights International Covenant on CPR International Covenant on ESCR