PREAMBLE

Whereas 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,
Whereasdisregardandcontemptforhumanrightshaveresultedinbarbarousactswhichhaveoutragedthe
conscienceofmankind,andtheadventofaworldinwhichhumanbeingsshallenjoyfreedomofspeechand
beliefandfreedomfromfearandwanthasbeenproclaimedasthehighestaspirationofthecommon
people,
Whereasitisessential,ifmanisnottobecompelledtohaverecourse,asalastresort,torebellionagainst
tyrannyandoppression,thathumanrightsshouldbeprotectedbytheruleoflaw,
Whereasitisessentialtopromotethedevelopmentoffriendlyrelationsbetweennations,
WhereasthepeoplesoftheUnitedNationshaveintheCharterreaffirmedtheirfaithinfundamentalhuman
rights,inthedignityandworthofthehumanpersonandintheequalrightsofmenandwomenandhave
determinedtopromotesocialprogressandbetterstandardsoflifeinlargerfreedom,
WhereasMemberStateshavepledgedthemselvestoachieve,incooperationwiththeUnitedNations,the
promotionofuniversalrespectforandobservanceofhumanrightsandfundamentalfreedoms,
Whereasacommonunderstandingoftheserightsandfreedomsisofthegreatestimportanceforthefull
realizationofthispledge,

Now,ThereforeTHEGENERALASSEMBLYproclaimsTHISUNIVERSALDECLARATIONOF
HUMANRIGHTS
asacommonstandardofachievementforallpeoplesandallnations,totheendthat
everyindividualandeveryorganofsociety,keepingthisDeclarationconstantlyinmind,shallstriveby
teachingandeducationtopromoterespectfortheserightsandfreedomsandbyprogressivemeasures,
nationalandinternational,tosecuretheiruniversalandeffectiverecognitionandobservance,bothamong
thepeoplesofMemberStatesthemselvesandamongthepeoplesofterritoriesundertheirjurisdiction.

Article1.

Allhumanbeingsarebornfreeandequalindignityandrights.Theyareendowedwithreason
andconscienceandshouldacttowardsoneanotherinaspiritofbrotherhood.

Article2.

EveryoneisentitledtoalltherightsandfreedomssetforthinthisDeclaration,withoutdistinction
ofanykind,suchasrace,colour,sex,language,religion,politicalorotheropinion,nationalor
socialorigin,property,birthorotherstatus.Furthermore,nodistinctionshallbemadeonthe
basisofthepolitical,jurisdictionalorinternationalstatusofthecountryorterritorytowhicha
personbelongs,whetheritbeindependent,trust,nonselfgoverningorunderanyother
limitationofsovereignty.

Article3.

Everyonehastherighttolife,libertyandsecurityofperson.

Article4.

Nooneshallbeheldinslaveryorservitudeslaveryandtheslavetradeshallbeprohibitedinall
theirforms.

Article5.

Nooneshallbesubjectedtotortureortocruel,inhumanordegradingtreatmentorpunishment.

Article6.

Everyonehastherighttorecognitioneverywhereasapersonbeforethelaw.

Article7.

Allareequalbeforethelawandareentitledwithoutanydiscriminationtoequalprotectionofthe
law.AllareentitledtoequalprotectionagainstanydiscriminationinviolationofthisDeclaration
andagainstanyincitementtosuchdiscrimination.

Article8.

Everyonehastherighttoaneffectiveremedybythecompetentnationaltribunalsforacts
violatingthefundamentalrightsgrantedhimbytheconstitutionorbylaw.

Article9.

Nooneshallbesubjectedtoarbitraryarrest,detentionorexile.

Article10.

Everyoneisentitledinfullequalitytoafairandpublichearingbyanindependentandimpartial
tribunal,inthedeterminationofhisrightsandobligationsandofanycriminalchargeagainst
him.

Article11.

(1)Everyonechargedwithapenaloffencehastherighttobepresumedinnocentuntilproved
guiltyaccordingtolawinapublictrialatwhichhehashadalltheguaranteesnecessaryforhis
defence.
(2)Nooneshallbeheldguiltyofanypenaloffenceonaccountofanyactoromissionwhichdid
notconstituteapenaloffence,undernationalorinternationallaw,atthetimewhenitwas
committed.Norshallaheavierpenaltybeimposedthantheonethatwasapplicableatthetime
thepenaloffencewascommitted.

Article12.

Nooneshallbesubjectedtoarbitraryinterferencewithhisprivacy,family,homeor
correspondence,nortoattacksuponhishonourandreputation.Everyonehastherighttothe
protectionofthelawagainstsuchinterferenceorattacks.

Article13.

(1)Everyonehastherighttofreedomofmovementandresidencewithinthebordersofeach
state.
(2)Everyonehastherighttoleaveanycountry,includinghisown,andtoreturntohiscountry.

Article14.

(1)Everyonehastherighttoseekandtoenjoyinothercountriesasylumfrompersecution.
(2)Thisrightmaynotbeinvokedinthecaseofprosecutionsgenuinelyarisingfromnonpolitical
crimesorfromactscontrarytothepurposesandprinciplesoftheUnitedNations.

Article15.

(1)Everyonehastherighttoanationality.
(2)Nooneshallbearbitrarilydeprivedofhisnationalitynordeniedtherighttochangehis
nationality.

Article16.

(1)Menandwomenoffullage,withoutanylimitationduetorace,nationalityorreligion,have
therighttomarryandtofoundafamily.Theyareentitledtoequalrightsastomarriage,during
marriageandatitsdissolution.
(2)Marriageshallbeenteredintoonlywiththefreeandfullconsentoftheintendingspouses.

(3)Thefamilyisthenaturalandfundamentalgroupunitofsocietyandisentitledtoprotection
bysocietyandtheState.

Article17.

(1)Everyonehastherighttoownpropertyaloneaswellasinassociationwithothers.
(2)Nooneshallbearbitrarilydeprivedofhisproperty.

Article18.

Everyonehastherighttofreedomofthought,conscienceandreligionthisrightincludes
freedomtochangehisreligionorbelief,andfreedom,eitheraloneorincommunitywithothers
andinpublicorprivate,tomanifesthisreligionorbeliefinteaching,practice,worshipand
observance.

Article19.

Everyonehastherighttofreedomofopinionandexpressionthisrightincludesfreedomtohold
opinionswithoutinterferenceandtoseek,receiveandimpartinformationandideasthroughany
mediaandregardlessoffrontiers.

Article20.

(1)Everyonehastherighttofreedomofpeacefulassemblyandassociation.
(2)Noonemaybecompelledtobelongtoanassociation.

Article21.

(1)Everyonehastherighttotakepartinthegovernmentofhiscountry,directlyorthrough
freelychosenrepresentatives.
(2)Everyonehastherightofequalaccesstopublicserviceinhiscountry.
(3)Thewillofthepeopleshallbethebasisoftheauthorityofgovernmentthiswillshallbe
expressedinperiodicandgenuineelectionswhichshallbebyuniversalandequalsuffrageand
shallbeheldbysecretvoteorbyequivalentfreevotingprocedures.

Article22.

Everyone,asamemberofsociety,hastherighttosocialsecurityandisentitledtorealization,
throughnationaleffortandinternationalcooperationandinaccordancewiththeorganization
andresourcesofeachState,oftheeconomic,socialandculturalrightsindispensableforhis
dignityandthefreedevelopmentofhispersonality.

Article23.

(1)Everyonehastherighttowork,tofreechoiceofemployment,tojustandfavourable
conditionsofworkandtoprotectionagainstunemployment.

(2)Everyone,withoutanydiscrimination,hastherighttoequalpayforequalwork.
(3)Everyonewhoworkshastherighttojustandfavourableremunerationensuringforhimself
andhisfamilyanexistenceworthyofhumandignity,andsupplemented,ifnecessary,byother
meansofsocialprotection.
(4)Everyonehastherighttoformandtojointradeunionsfortheprotectionofhisinterests.

Article24.

Everyonehastherighttorestandleisure,includingreasonablelimitationofworkinghoursand
periodicholidayswithpay.

Article25.

(1)Everyonehastherighttoastandardoflivingadequateforthehealthandwellbeingof
himselfandofhisfamily,includingfood,clothing,housingandmedicalcareandnecessary
socialservices,andtherighttosecurityintheeventofunemployment,sickness,disability,
widowhood,oldageorotherlackoflivelihoodincircumstancesbeyondhiscontrol.
(2)Motherhoodandchildhoodareentitledtospecialcareandassistance.Allchildren,whether
borninoroutofwedlock,shallenjoythesamesocialprotection.

Article26.

(1)Everyonehastherighttoeducation.Educationshallbefree,atleastintheelementaryand
fundamentalstages.Elementaryeducationshallbecompulsory.Technicalandprofessional
educationshallbemadegenerallyavailableandhighereducationshallbeequallyaccessibleto
allonthebasisofmerit.
(2)Educationshallbedirectedtothefulldevelopmentofthehumanpersonalityandtothe
strengtheningofrespectforhumanrightsandfundamentalfreedoms.Itshallpromote
understanding,toleranceandfriendshipamongallnations,racialorreligiousgroups,andshall
furthertheactivitiesoftheUnitedNationsforthemaintenanceofpeace.
(3)Parentshaveapriorrighttochoosethekindofeducationthatshallbegiventotheir
children.

Article27.

(1)Everyonehastherightfreelytoparticipateintheculturallifeofthecommunity,toenjoythe
artsandtoshareinscientificadvancementanditsbenefits.
(2)Everyonehastherighttotheprotectionofthemoralandmaterialinterestsresultingfrom
anyscientific,literaryorartisticproductionofwhichheistheauthor.

Article28.

Everyoneisentitledtoasocialandinternationalorderinwhichtherightsandfreedomssetforth
inthisDeclarationcanbefullyrealized.

Article29.

(1)Everyonehasdutiestothecommunityinwhichalonethefreeandfulldevelopmentofhis
personalityispossible.
(2)Intheexerciseofhisrightsandfreedoms,everyoneshallbesubjectonlytosuchlimitations
asaredeterminedbylawsolelyforthepurposeofsecuringduerecognitionandrespectforthe
rightsandfreedomsofothersandofmeetingthejustrequirementsofmorality,publicorderand
thegeneralwelfareinademocraticsociety.
(3)Theserightsandfreedomsmayinnocasebeexercisedcontrarytothepurposesand
principlesoftheUnitedNations.

Article30.

NothinginthisDeclarationmaybeinterpretedasimplyingforanyState,grouporpersonany
righttoengageinanyactivityortoperformanyactaimedatthedestructionofanyoftherights
andfreedomssetforthherein.