Universal Declaration of Human Rights

The power of the Universal Declaration is the power of ideas to change the world. It inspires us to continue working to ensure all people can gain freedom, equality and dignity.

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Article 1

Free and equal

All human beings are born free and equal and should be treated the same way.

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.

Article 2

Freedom from discrimination

Everyone can claim their rights regardless of sex, race, language, religion, social standing, etc.

Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, 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 limitation of sovereignty.

Article 3

Right to life

Everyone has the right to life and to live in freedom and safety.

Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

Article 4

Freedom from slavery

No one has the right to treat you as a slave nor should you enslave anyone.

No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.

Article 5

Freedom from torture

No one has the right to torture you.

No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Article 6

Right to recognition before the law

You should be legally protected in the same way everywhere like anyone else.

Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.

Article 7

Right to equality before the law

The law is the same for everyone and should be applied in the same manner to all.

All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.

Article 8

Access to justice

You have the right to obtain legal help and access the justice system when your rights are not respected.

Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.

Article 9

Freedom from arbitrary detention

No one can arrest or detain you arbitrarily , or send you away from your country unjustly.

No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.

Article 10

Right to a fair trial

Trials should be public and tried in a fair manner by an impartial and independent tribunal.

Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.

Article 11

Presumption of innocence

You are considered innocent until it can be proved you are guilty according to law. If accused of a crime you have the right to a defence.

1Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence.

2No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offence, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal offence was committed.

Article 12

Right to privacy

You have the right to protection if someone tried to harm your good name, enter your home without permission or interfere with your correspondence.

No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation.
Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.

Article 13

Freedom of movement

You have the right to leave or move within your own country and you should be able to return.

1Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each State.

2Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.

Article 14

Right to asylum

If you are persecuted at home, you have the right to seek protection in another country.

1Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.

2This right may not be invoked in the case of prosecutions genuinely arising from non-political crimes or from acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Article 15

Right to nationality

You have the right to belong to a country and have a nationality.

1Everyone has the right to a nationality.

2No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality.

Article 16

Right to marriage and to found a family

Men and women have the right to marry when they are legally able without limits due to race, nationality or religion. Families should be protected by the Government and the justice system.

1Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.

2Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses.

3The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.

Article 17

Right to own property

You have the right to own things. No one has the right to illegally take them from you.

1Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.

2No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.

Article 18

Freedom of religion or belief

Everyone has the right to freely manifest their religion, to change it and to practice it alone or with others.

Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

Article 19

Freedom of Expression

Everyone has the right to think and say what they like and no one should forbid it.

Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek receive and impart information and ideas though any media and regardless of frontiers.

Article 20

Freedom of assembly

You have the right to organize and participate in peaceful meetings.

1Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.

2No one may be compelled to belong to an association.

Article 21

Right to partake in public affairs

Everyone has the right to take part in their country’s political affairs and equal access to public service. Governments should be voted for regularly.

1Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.

2Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country.

3The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secrete vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.

Article 22

Right to social security

Society should help individuals to freely develop and make the most of all advantages offered in their country.

Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international cooperation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality.

Article 23

Right to work

Everyone has the right to work in just and favourable conditions and be free to choose your work with a salary that allows you to live and support family. Everyone should receive equal pay for equal work.

1Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.

2Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.

3Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.

4Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.

Article 24

Right to leisure and rest

Each work day should not be too long and everyone has the right to rest and take regular paid holidays.

Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.

Article 25

Right to adequate standard of living

You have the right to have what you need so that you and your family do not go hungry, homeless or fall ill.

1Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including foods, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.

2Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.

Article 26

Right to education

You have the right to go to school, continue your studies as far as you wish and learn regardless of race, religion or country of origin.

1Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.

2Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.

3Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.

Article 27

Right to take part in cultural, artistic and scientific life

You have the right to share the benefits of your community’s culture, arts and sciences.

1Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.

2Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the author.

Article 28

Right to a free and fair world

To make sure your rights are respected, there must be an order that can protect them. This order should be global.

Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized.

Article 29

Duty to your community

You have duties toward the community within which your personality can fully develop. The law should guarantee human rights. It should allow everyone to respect others and to be respected.

1Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible.

2In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society.

3These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Article 30

Rights are inalienable

No one, institution nor individual, should act in any way to destroy the rights enshrined in the UDHR.

Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.
  • I will respect your rights regardless of who you are. I will uphold your rights even when I disagree with you
  • When anyone’s human rights are denied, everyone's rights are undermined, so I will stand up
  • I will raise my voice. I will take action. I will use my rights to stand up for your rights.

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