Context: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights recently marked its 75th anniversary.

Human Rights Day 2023

• Human Rights Day is celebrated on December 10 every year to commemorate the 1948 adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) by the United Nations General Assembly. 
• The theme for Human Rights Day 2023 is “Freedom, Equality, and Justice for All”

Learn more about Human Rights Day 2023 here. 

About Human Rights

• Human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, regardless of race, sex, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, or any other status. 
• Human rights include the right to life and liberty, freedom from slavery, and torture, freedom of opinion and expression, the right to work and education, and many more. 
• Everyone is entitled to these rights, without discrimination.

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

• Genesis: It was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on 10 December 1948 as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations. 
• About: The declaration consists of a preamble and 30 articles outlining fundamental rights and freedoms.
• Significance: It sets out, for the first time, fundamental human rights to be universally protected and it has been translated into over 500 languages.

Achievements of UDHR

• Guiding Principles for nations: Although the declaration isn’t a treaty and isn’t legally binding, many nations have adopted its guiding principles into their legal systems
  • They are recognized as the cornerstone of international human rights law.
• Inspiration for human rights treaties: It served as an inspiration and a stepping stone for over 70 human rights treaties at the international and regional levels.
  • It inspired movements against racism, LGBTIQ+ problems, decolonization, and the anti-apartheid movement as well as freedom fighters worldwide.

News Source: Indian Express