DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

1. Article 1
All human beings are born free and equal in
d
­ ignity and rights. They are endowed with
reason and conscience and should act towards
United Nations one ­an­other in a spirit of brotherhood.
IENCO
Article 2
Everyone is entitled to all the rights and
freedoms set forth in this Declaration, with-
out distinction of any kind, such as race,
colour, sex, language, ­ religion, political or
other opinion, national or social origin, prop-
erty, birth or other status. Furthermore, no
distinction shall be made on the basis of the
political, jurisdictional or international status
of the country or territory to which a person
belongs, whether it be independent, trust,
non-self-governing or under any other limita-
tion of sovereignty.
All human beings are born with equal and inalienable rights Article 3
and fundamental freedoms. Everyone has the right to life, liberty and
security of person.
The United Nations is committed to upholding, promoting and protecting
Article 4
the human rights of every individual. This commitment stems from the
No one shall be held in slavery or servitude;
United Nations Charter, which reaffirms the faith of the peoples of the world in s
­ lavery and the slave trade shall be prohib-
fundamental human rights and in the dignity and worth of the human person. ited in all their forms.
In the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the United Nations has stated Article 5
in clear and simple terms the rights which belong equally to every person. No one shall be subjected to torture or to
cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or
These rights belong to you. punishment.
Article 6
They are your rights. Familiarize yourself with them.
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Everyone has the right to recognition every-
Help to promote and defend them for yourself where as a person before the law.
as well as for your fellow human beings.
Article 7
All are equal before the law and are entitled
Adopted and proclaimed by General Assembly resolution 217 A (III) of 10 December 1948
w
­ ithout any discrimination to equal protec-
tion of the law. All are entitled to equal pro-
Preamble progress and better standards of life in tection against any discrimination in violation
Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity larger freedom, of this Declaration and against any incitement
and of the equal and inalienable rights of to such discrimination.
all members of the human family is the Whereas Member States have pledged
themselves to achieve, in cooperation
foundation of freedom, justice and peace
with the United Nations, the promotion
Article 8
in the world, Everyone has the right to an effective remedy
of universal respect for and observ­ance of
Whereas disregard and contempt for human human rights and fundamental freedoms, by the competent national tribunals for acts
rights have resulted in barbarous acts which violating the fundamental rights granted him
have outraged the conscience of mankind, Whereas a common understanding of these by the consti­tution or by law.
and the advent of a world in which human rights and freedoms is of the greatest
beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and importance for the full realization of this Article 9
belief and freedom from fear and want has pledge, No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest,
been proclaimed as the highest aspiration d
­ etention or exile.
Now, therefore,
of the common people,
The General Assembly Article 10
Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be
Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair
c
­ ompelled to have recourse, as a last resort, Proclaims this Universal Declaration of Human
and public hearing by an independent and
to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, Rights as a common standard of achieve-
i
­mpartial ­ tribunal, in the determination of
that human rights should be protected by ment for all ­ peoples and all nations, to
his rights and obligations and of any criminal
the rule of law, the end that every ­ individual and every
charge against him.
organ of society, keeping this Declaration
Whereas it is essential to promote the devel-
c
­ onstantly in mind, shall strive by teach-
opment of friendly relations between Article 11
ing and ­education to promote respect for
nations, (1) Everyone charged with a penal offence
these rights and freedoms and by progres-
has the right to be presumed innocent until
Whereas the peoples of the United Nations sive measures, national and international,
proved guilty according to law in a public trial
have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith to secure their universal and effective rec-
at which he has had all the guarantees neces-
in fundamental human rights, in the dig- ognition and ­observance, both among the
sary for his defence.
nity and worth of the human person and peoples of Member States themselves and
in the equal rights of men and women among the ­ peoples of ­ territories under (2) No one shall be held guilty of any penal
and have determined to promote social their jurisdiction. offence on account of any act or omission

2. which did not constitute a penal offence, to seek, receive and impart information and (2) Motherhood and childhood are entitled
under national or international law, at the ideas through any media and regardless of to ­special care and assistance. All children,
time when it was committed. Nor shall a frontiers. whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy
heavier penalty be imposed than the one that the same social protection.
was applicable at the time the penal offence Article 20
was committed. (1) Everyone has the right to freedom of Article 26
peaceful assembly and association. (1) Everyone has the right to education. Edu-
Article 12 cation shall be free, at least in the elemen-
(2) No one may be compelled to belong to
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary inter- tary and funda­mental stages. Elementary
an association.
ference with his privacy, family, home or cor- education shall be compulsory. Technical
respondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and professional education shall be made
Article 21
and reputation. Everyone has the right to the generally available and higher ­ education
(1) Everyone has the right to take part in
protection of the law against such interfer- shall be equally accessible to all on the basis
the ­ government of his country, directly or
ence or attacks. of merit.
through freely chosen representatives.
(2) Education shall be directed to the full
Article 13 (2) Everyone has the right to equal access to
d
­ evelopment of the human personality and
(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of public service in his country.
to the strengthening of respect for human
movement and residence within the borders
(3) The will of the people shall be the basis rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall pro-
of each State.
of the authority of government; this will shall mote ­understanding, tolerance and friendship
(2) Everyone has the right to leave any coun- be expressed in periodic and genuine elec- among all nations, racial or religious groups,
try, including his own, and to return to his tions which shall be by universal and equal and shall ­further the activities of the United
country. suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or Nations for the maintenance of peace.
by equivalent free ­voting procedures.
(3) Parents have a prior right to choose the
Article 14
kind of education that shall be given to their
(1) Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy Article 22
children.
in other countries asylum from persecution. Everyone, as a member of society, has the
right to social security and is entitled to reali- Article 27
(2) This right may not be invoked in the
zation, through national effort and interna-
case of prosecutions genuinely arising from (1) Everyone has the right freely to participate
tional cooperation and in accordance with the
non-political crimes or from acts contrary to in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy
organization and resources of each State, of
the purposes and principles of the United the arts and to share in scientific advance-
the economic, social and cultural rights indis-
Nations. ment and its benefits.
pensable for his dignity and the free develop-
ment of his personality. (2) Everyone has the right to the protection
Article 15
of the moral and material interests resulting
(1) Everyone has the right to a nationality. Article 23 from any ­scientific, literary or artistic produc-
(2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his (1) Everyone has the right to work, to free tion of which he is the author.
nationality nor denied the right to change choice of employment, to just and favourable
his nationality. conditions of work and to protection against Article 28
unemployment. Everyone is entitled to a social and interna-
Article 16 tional order in which the rights and freedoms
(2) Everyone, without any discrimination, has
(1) Men and women of full age, without any set forth in this Declaration can be fully
the right to equal pay for equal work.
l
­imitation due to race, nationality or reli- realized.
gion, have the right to marry and to found (3) Everyone who works has the right to just and
a family. They are entitled to equal rights favourable remuneration ensuring for himself Article 29
as to marriage, during ­ marriage and at its and his family an existence worthy of human (1) Everyone has duties to the community in
dissolution. dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by which alone the free and full development of
other means of social protection. his personality is possible.
(2) Marriage shall be entered into only with
the free and full consent of the intending (4) Everyone has the right to form and to (2) In the exercise of his rights and freedoms,
spouses. join trade unions for the protection of his e
­ veryone shall be subject only to such limi-
interests. tations as are determined by law solely for
(3) The family is the natural and fundamental
the purpose of securing due recognition
group unit of society and is entitled to pro- Article 24 and respect for the rights and freedoms of
tection by society and the State.
Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, others and of meeting the just requirements
includ­­­ing reasonable limitation of working of morality, public order and the general wel-
Article 17
hours and periodic holidays with pay. fare in a democratic society.
(1) Everyone has the right to own property
alone as well as in association with others. (3) These rights and freedoms may in no case
Article 25
be exercised contrary to the purposes and
(2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his (1) Everyone has the right to a standard
principles of the United Nations.
property. of living adequate for the health and well-
being of himself and of his family, including Article 30
Article 18 food, clothing, housing and medical care
Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, and necessary social services, and the right Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted
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­ onscience and religion; this right includes to security in the event of unemployment, as implying for any State, group or person any
freedom to change his religion or belief, and sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or right to engage in any activity or to perform
freedom, either alone or in community with other lack of livelihood in circumstances any act aimed at the destruction of any of the
others and in public or private, to manifest his beyond his control. rights and freedoms set forth herein.
religion or belief in teaching, practice, wor-
ship and observance.
United Nations Department of Public Information
Article 19 For more information
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion
www.ohchr.org/english/issues/education/training/udhr.htm
and expression; this right includes freedom
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to hold opinions without interference and