December 10, 1948 - Declaration of Human Rights

UN adopts Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Human rights has been a vital part of the United Nations’ work from the moment its charter was signed in San Francisco in 1945. Knowing what took place under the Nazis in World War II, nation states decided to put into a document the need for human rights to be respected and upheld. The United Nations Secretary General Trygve Lie called upon Canadian lawyer John Humphrey to write this document. With the assistance of Eleanor Roosevelt, Jacques Maritain, René Cassin, Charles Malik and P.C. Chang, and after numerous re-writes and resolutions, the document made its way to the General Assembly. On December 10, 1948, the UN’s General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights – 30 articles that began with the statement, “The General Assembly proclaims this Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations.” Some 48 countries voted in favour of the declaration with no country opposing. However, eight members, including all Soviet Union bloc countries, South Africa and Saudi Arabia, abstained. Canada found itself in this company when it originally abstained in earlier drafts, but in the end, voted in favour. While the declaration is seen as a set of objectives, it is used as a powerful legal and political tool for countries to follow. In 1950, all nations were asked to join in the celebrations of this historic anniversary and most do, celebrating December 10th as International Human Rights Day.

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