* The UDHR is a universally recognized document that sets out fundamental human rights principles.
* It’s universal significance, extensive translation corpus, complex content, cultural adaptation, historical context, and educational value make it a valuable tool for linguistic research
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a milestone document in the history of human rights. It was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948 as a response to the atrocities of World War II and is considered the foundation of international human rights law. The UDHR has been translated into over 500 languages, making it one of the most translated texts in the world.
It consists of 30 articles that articulate the rights and freedoms to which all human beings are entitled, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, or other status. These rights include:
Civil and Political Rights: Such as the right to life, liberty, and security of person (Article 3), the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion (Article 18), and the right to participate in government and to equal access to public service (Article 21).
Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights: Such as the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favorable conditions of work, and to protection against unemployment (Article 23), the right to a standard of living adequate for health and well-being (Article 25), and the right to education (Article 26).
Equality and Non-Discrimination: The UDHR also emphasizes the principle of non-discrimination and the equal protection of the law for all without distinction of any kind, such as race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, or other status (Article 2).
The UDHR is not a legally binding document, but it has inspired more than 80 international human rights treaties and declarations, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which together form the International Bill of Human Rights. The UDHR remains a fundamental reference point for the promotion and protection of human rights worldwide.
