Article 1

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Celebrating UDHR: "Keeping Our Promise"

Late, on the evening of December 10, 1948, a final and heroic debate ended when forty eight nations voted for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This night, a promise was made that could never be broken. For on this night, all who witnessed the adoption of the Declaration made a commitment that the "recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world." They affirmed, "it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law."

I can only imagine, the power of action and proclamation that resided in the room that night. The feeling of victory, pride and achievement. Knowing that what was set before them, would change and protect the lives of many for years to come. Never had there existed a tool more powerful and indisputable for the protection of human rights.

Almost 60 years later and we owe much gratitude to the Declaration's authors. The Declaration has become a building block for international law and has direct reference in national constitutions around the world. It has also led to the adoption of legally-binding treaties.

So, why is it important that we raise awareness on the significance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?

Because we have to continue our promise to uphold the basic human rights spelled out in the Declaration. We have to create a safer and more peaceful world where every man, woman, and child is given a life free from prejudice, hate, violence, poverty, disease, and inequality.

I envision myself in the room the night the Declaration was declared. I read each article knowing that one day one of the articles would directly relate to a life that is affected by rape, lack of access to education, genocide, torture, famine, and environmental degradation. I know that it is my responsibility to see that all are aware of the Declaration's promise to promote human rights. Today, I make it my mission to do so.

Big Picture: My Take on the UDHR

This blog is joining in the initiative to spend the next year raising awareness of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights – culminating with the 60th anniversary on December 10, 2008. We have decided to use this forum to delve into the document and look at each of the 30 individual articles of the declaration. We hope that if people see how fundamental these rights are but how often they are violated, people would be more moved to act.

What I have noticed already is that many of these rights are things that Americans hold dear. And the major violations throughout the world are things we wouldn't stand for here. Whether it is 27,000 rapes in one province in one year, forcing children to fight a war, an overall lack of rights for women, sex trafficking, or torture, if it was happening in the US, there would be immediate outrage and action.

The uphill battle we have as advocates for human rights across the world is that people choose to distinguish between Americans and others – between us and them. Our goal then is not only to raise awareness that this document exists, but to make people believe that humanity everywhere shares a common bond. There needs to be outrage when rights are violated no matter where it is happening and who it is happening to. This will not be easy and is likely to be not just a yearlong effort, but a lifelong effort. But for my mind, I can't think of a more worthwhile mission.

Celebrating the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

This year’s Human Rights Day gives special recognition to an important document created 59 years ago. Today, we will stat a one-year long celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The United Nations Secretary General and High Commissioner for Human Rights are devoting the upcoming 2008 year to reflect on the state of human rights around the world. This year-long commemoration is an opportunity to promote the mechanisms that are imperative to protecting human rights and universality of the Declaration.

To take part in the United Nations efforts to raise awareness of the Declaration, the Human Rights Committee is embarking on an important blog initiative. Starting today, December 10, 2007, our blog will raise awareness on the significance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by relating today’s human rights events with articles from the Declaration. Every two weeks, we will bring you an Article from the Declaration and express our impressions of the meaning of the Article and how it relates to current events of today. Starting with Article 1, we will share with you the latest news, initiatives and inspiration for change. Until we have reached Article 30, we hope to encourage you to speak out and get engaged in important human rights issues. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is pivotal instrument that can help bring hope and understanding to every basic right that should be given to everyone. Join us and celebrate!


About the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
On December 10, 1948, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The United States had a strong voice in developing the text of the Declaration. Eleanor Roosevelt led the drafting of the UDHR and was perhaps the most prominent American involved in the promotion of universal human rights. She hoped that the document would become “the international Magna Carta.” The UDHR defines set of rights, including civil/political liberties and social conditions of freedom, to be enjoyed by all humans but does not have any enforcement mechanism.

Polling data shows that awareness of the UDHR is low. The 1997 poll conducted by the Hart Research found that only 8% of respondents could name the document and 24% had previously heard of it.

Good for Malawi

I am not one who heaps a lot of angry rhetoric on organizations like the World Bank and World Trade Organization. But they do certainly have their faults. For one, they seem to rely more on economic development than on alleviating immediate hardship. (By the way, can anyone explain me me how free market principles are taken for granted when we give advice to developing countries, when that remains to this day a major source of debate in the US?)

And here is seemingly one example of this. The World Bank, the US and Britain have been telling Malawi that they shouldn't provide fertilizer subsidies. The Malawian government has finally decided to ignore that advice, and the result is significant increases in agriculture production. Granted, the country has also seen good rainfall the last two years, but that analysis points to the fertilizer making a significant impact on increases in food production.

What really makes me angry though is that the US is telling these countries not to have agriculture subsidies, while we continue to boost agribusiness in our country. I don't understand how we can be so hypocritical in in such a way that allows people to starve. Maybe more developing countries will start to ignore the US and World Bank in situations like this.

Somalia Caught in the Middle

I am going to admit something that I am not so proud of. When I analyzed the situation in Somalia in the past, I mostly did so from a Global War On Terror perspective. Granted, in part it was driven by a desire to show how President Bush was wasting time in Iraq, where there was not real threat for terrorism, and ignoring places like Somalia where terrorism was thriving. What I often overlooked was the very real humanitarian crisis that has persisted there for at least a decade. And in fact, one of the main reasons for the crisis is / was the way that outside forces used the country for their own interests and only when they were interested (USSR and US during the Cold War, and now US / Ethiopia and Islamic extremists).

There have been two recent articles about Somalia recently. One on MSNBC's World News and the other on the NY Times. The New York Times article says that Somalia is currently the worst humanitarian crisis - worse than Darfur - with higher malnutrition rates and less aid (in terms of workers and funding).

What makes me feel extra guilty is that there was apparently (according to the article) a short time of stability during the six months last year that the Islamic government was in control. This is obviously relative, considering the extremist Islamic government, as I understand the situation, would likely have instituted Sharia - Islamic laws that are not friendly to human rights, especially the rights of women. But to know that I was happy that Ethiopia was supporting military operations that would cause so much devastation (something I didn't think about) gives me no satisfaction.

Print Version - IRIN Africa | DRC Djibouti Eritrea Ethiopia Kenya Sudan Somalia Tanzania Uganda | AFRICA: Joining the fight against gender-based viole

Print Version - IRIN Africa | DRC Djibouti Eritrea Ethiopia Kenya Sudan Somalia Tanzania Uganda | AFRICA: Joining the fight against gender-based violence | Gender Issues Human Rights | New: "rights"