Special issue 60th Anniversary of the Universal ... - UN Russia

United NationsHuman RightsOffice of High Commissionerfor Human RightsThe Universal Declarationof Human Rights Turns 60!On 10 December 2008, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) turns 60. The Declarationwas adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 10 December 1948. The date has since servedto mark Human Rights Day worldwide.The Declaration consists of a preambleand 30 articles, setting out a broadrange of fundamental human rights andfreedoms, to which all men and womeneverywhere in the world are entitled,without any distinction.The UDHR is the first internationalrecognition that fundamental rightsand freedoms are inalienableand inherent to allhuman beings, that everyone of us is born free andequal. The UDHR is a livingdocument that mattersnot only in times ofconflict and in societiessuffering repression, butalso in addressing socialinjustice and achievinghuman dignity in times ofpeace in establisheddemocracies.N on-discrimination,equality and fairness– key components of justiceform the foundationof the UDHR. And nomatter where you live,how much money youhave, what faith youpractice or political views you hold, all thehuman rights in the Declaration apply toyou everywhere and always.Indeed, the UDHR has inspired morethan 80 international human rightstreaties and declarations, a great numberof regional human rights conventions,domestic human rights bills, andconstitutional provisions, which togetherconstitute a comprehensive legallybinding system for the promotion andprotection of human rights. Building onthe achievements of the UDHR, theInternational Covenant on Civil andPolitical Rights and the InternationalCovenant on Economic, Social andCultural Rights entered into force in1976. Together with the UDHR, theCovenants comprise the InternationalBill of Human Rights.Today, all United Nations memberstates have ratified at least one ofthe nine core international humanrights treaties, and 80 percent have ratifiedfour or more, giving concreteexpression to the universality of theUDHR and international human rights.The UDHR is the most translated documentin the world. It was translatedinto more than 330 languages: from thesix UN official languages -Arabic, Chinese,English, French, Russian, and Spanish spokenby billions of people, to Pipil, spokenby some 50 people in El Salvador andHonduras.The anniversary campaign is symbolizedby the UDHR60 logo,which depicts a human shape standingwith arms wide open. The yellowand red symbol represents liberationand equality. The yellow is a sign ofpeace and warmth. The symbol is seton a solid block which represents thefoundation of human rights. Theearthy red colour of the block reinforceshuman rights as a foundationstone and as humankind’s commonheritage. The UDHR60 logo comeswith words thatencapsulate the promiseof the Declaration:“Dignity andjustice for all of us”.It reinforces thevision of the UDHRas the first internationalrecognitionthat fundamentalrights and freedomsare inalienable andinherent to all humanbeings, thatevery one of us isborn free and equal.The phrase alsoserves as a rallyingcall, for the promiseof dignity and justiceis far from realizedfor everyone.Professor Vladimir M. Koretsky, USSR representative(left), greets Dr. Charles Malik,Rapporteur of the Drafting Committee ofUDHRUN in RUSSIA No.5 (60) 3