Memory of the World; 2012 - unesdoc - Unesco

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Original Declaration of the
Rights of Man and of the
Citizen (1789–1791)
Inscribed 2003
What is it
The first version of the 1789 Declaration of the Rights
of Man and of the Citizen, which was finalized by the
National Assembly in Paris during the summer of 1789,
related documents and the 1791 Declaration.
Why was it inscribed
The Declaration, together with its supporting papers, are
fundamental documents in the evolution of democracy
and respect for human rights around the world.
Where is it
Centre Historique des Archives Nationales, Paris, France
302 Original Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (1789–1791)
This inscription covers a collection of documents
connected to the proclamation of the Declaration
of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen and its entry
into law. The symbolic and political importance of the
Declaration and the historical context in which it was
drafted can be fully appreciated only if these documents
are considered together.
A comparison of all the existing versions of the
Declaration shows that there are six different versions,
dating from the beginning of the discussion stage to
the promulgation of the Constitution in 1791 and not, as
historians and folk memory still seem to suggest, just one
single text. However, only two versions meet the criteria
for legal validity. Both these versions were adopted by
The original draft of the 1791 Constitution, preceded by the text
of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, signed
first by the President and secretaries of the National Assembly on
3 September 1791, and then by the King on 14 September 1791. � �