Verdenserklæring

Verdenserklæring, commonly known as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), is a foundational document of the United Nations that proclaims universal rights to all human beings. Adopted by the UN General Assembly on 10 December 1948 in Paris, it sets out fundamental rights and freedoms including civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.

The UDHR's preamble and 30 articles declare that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights, and it outlines rights such as freedom from torture, freedom of expression, the right to education, work, an adequate standard of living, and participation in government.

Although the UDHR is a declaration and not a legally binding treaty, it has strong normative force and has inspired the development of binding international and regional instruments, such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, as well as numerous national constitutions.

Historically, it was drafted by the UN Commission on Human Rights, chaired by Eleanor Roosevelt, and emerged after World War II as a consensus statement on universal rights. It has since been translated into hundreds of languages and serves as a foundational reference in human rights advocacy, education, and policy development worldwide.