Universal Declaration of Human Rights Assignment

The Universal Declaration of
Human Rights
Table of Contents

1) What do you think is the purpose of the Declaration of Human Rights? Is it effective?............3
2) Choose two Articles that you think are among the most important in the Declaration. Explain
what these mean to you and why you think they are important......................................................3
3) What moral/ethical principles and theories are reflected in the Articles you chose?..................4
4) For which real-world issues in our modern society do the Articles you chose have relevance
and applicability? Be specific..........................................................................................................5
References........................................................................................................................................5
1) What do you think is the purpose of the Declaration of Human Rights? Is it
effective?
The Declaration of Human Rights is a universal document internationally approved that states
that the basic fundamental rights of freedom of speech, belief, dignity, equality, religion, and all

others that human beings are entitled to were proclaimed by the United Nations General
Assembly in Paris on 10th December 1948. It consists of 30 Articles that sets out obligations as
uniform standards to be followed by all people of all nations. The examples of these are freedom
from fear, freedom from torture, right to life, freedom from inhuman treatment.
This declaration has proved to be very effective as every state in the world has accepted this
declaration. It has been translated in to 360 languages and it is relevant to all societies whether
in conflicts or in peace. This declaration proved to be a catalyst for expanding human rights
protection to other groups like disabled, indigenous women and other people (Equality Human
Rights, 2018).
2) Choose two Articles that you think are among the most important in the
Declaration. Explain what these mean to you and why you think they are
important.
Article -2 and Article -19 are among the most important articles in the declaration (OHCHAR,
2018).
I feel that Article 19 is important as I am of the opinion that the most important declaration is
freedom of speech and expression. This is prerequisite for a free democratic society. This
freedom promotes openness, freedom of thinking, and advocates innovativeness.
Article 2 states that everyone without distinction has the right to freedom. This applies to all
people across the globe and it encompasses everyone irrespective of caste, creed, religion,
ethnicity, nationality, etc. I think this is very important declaration because till date this article is
not practiced in spirit. There is violence against women, minorities, races, etc. Hence, I feel that