Deklarasjonen

Deklarasjonen is a formal statement issued by an individual, group, organization, or state that sets out principles, intentions, rights, or official positions. The term comes from Latin declarare and has been adopted into Norwegian to describe a wide range of documents, from political proclamations to legal or organizational commitments. Declarations are used to articulate core values, outline plans, claim sovereignty, or declare a stance on an issue.

A declaration typically includes identifying information about the issuing authority, the purpose or principles being proclaimed, the scope of applicability, the date and place of issue, and the signatures or endorsements of those committing to its terms. Declarations can be unilateral, issued by a single party, or multilateral, produced collaboratively by several parties. The legal effect of a declaration varies: some are aspirational and non-binding, while others may translate into enforceable obligations through treaties, national law, or constitutional provisions.

Types and notable examples include political declarations, such as those declaring independence or sovereignty, or diplomatic declarations that express consensus on an issue. Notable historical examples often cited in Norwegian contexts include the Uavhengighetserklæringen (Declaration of Independence) of the United States (1776), Frankrikes Erklæring om menneskets og borgerens rettigheter (1789), and the Verdenserklæringen om menneskerettighetene (Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948). These documents have influenced subsequent law, policy, and human rights norms, even when their immediate legal force varied.

See also: Decree, Proclamation, Rights declaration.