NationStates Jolt Archive

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is 60 today.

OHCHR site (http://www.ohchr.org/EN/UDHR/Pages/60UDHRIntroduction.aspx)
Amnesty USA site (http://www.amnesty.org/en/universal-declaration-human-rights-anniversary)
Amnesty UK site (http://www.amnesty.org.uk/content.asp?CategoryID=11197)

What, if anything, do you think of the document? An important covenant for the 21st century, or an outdated relic? A sensible political idea, or nonsense upon stilts?

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is 60 today.
What, if anything, do you think of the document? An important covenant for the 21st century, or an outdated relic? A sensible political idea, or nonsense upon stilts?

Good lord, I remember the celebrations on the 50th anniversary. Crazy.

I think it's an absolutely amazing document. It has influenced human rights legislation around the world. Here in Canada, it was the blueprint for our Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and is directly referenced as the guiding principles for all our human rights acts.

It has been use to help us interpret civil rights, and it has sparked much debate in terms of social and economic rights (the latter is particularly interesting).

The world HAS changed since the UN Declaration of Human Rights was drafted. Not always for the better...but that document alone can't change humanity...it has been the people who champion what it stands for that have made real change, and I'm glad it exists.

Also the anniversary of the repeal of prohibition in the US.

Freedom for all :)

Admirable sentiment, but, tragically, most members of the UN-including a few members of the Security Council itself-have severely ignored the declaration.

I mean, look at article 4 and the past sixty years.

Also the anniversary of the repeal of prohibition in the US.

Freedom for all :)
Pretty sure that was the 5th of December (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2008/12/05/MNMO14IBLS.DTL)?

EDIT: Disregard that I suck cocks.

It's still the 5th in the US, sorry, being a time zone fool. You're right.

It's my father's birthday, too. So I always remember.

Also the anniversary of the repeal of prohibition in the US.

Freedom for all :)

Should be like a National Holiday for that...like, a Free Beer for everyone or something, lol...

Pretty sure that was the 5th of December (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2008/12/05/MNMO14IBLS.DTL)?

Which is the current date here ;)

Though, the Declaration of Human Rights wasn't passed untill the 10th...so yeah...

Pretty sure that was the 5th of December (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2008/12/05/MNMO14IBLS.DTL)?

EDIT: Disregard that I suck cocks.

It's still the 5th in the US, sorry, being a time zone fool. You're right.

Why, yes, yes it was, which, coincidentally, today still is.

This should be an international holiday... wait, is there even such a thing?

Just a nod to the freedom of the press, we've got this years Reporters Without Borders journalist of the year.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7765945.stm

Admirable sentiment, but, tragically, most members of the UN-including a few members of the Security Council itself-have severely ignored the declaration.

I mean, look at article 4 and the past sixty years.

Um...what slavery are you referring to?

Um...what slavery are you referring to?

All over the world...whenever forced labor was used by states to press down on their less-preferred subjects.

In effect, variations on slavery were practiced in South Africa, the USSR (probably the most egregious practitioner) and a whole clutch of tiny despotisms around the world, where new coups would bring to power a new dictator every few weeks.

I remember a while back my Government class was having a informal debate about healthcare or immigration or some other big issue. I pulled this out as an argument, pointing to several articles relevant to the issue at hand. I got the response of basically "Who cares what the UN says". On the bright side, my teacher seemed to understand my point.

Anyways, it never really influenced me. By the time I was able to sit down and really look at it most of it I already believed were human rights. So for me its basically my belief system wrapped up into one nice, convenient package.

Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday dear D of HR! HAppy birthday to you!

Whatever record company owns the rights to that song can bill me.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is 60 today.

OHCHR site (http://www.ohchr.org/EN/UDHR/Pages/60UDHRIntroduction.aspx)
Amnesty USA site (http://www.amnesty.org/en/universal-declaration-human-rights-anniversary)
Amnesty UK site (http://www.amnesty.org.uk/content.asp?CategoryID=11197)

What, if anything, do you think of the document? An important covenant for the 21st century, or an outdated relic? A sensible political idea, or nonsense upon stilts?



happy birthday to you! happy birthday to you! gays still can't get married..........................but happy birthday to you!

Does the Declaration have any actual power? In the US you can take someone to court if he, say, infringes on your right to free speech. Would the World Court hear something similar, or is the document more of a mission statement?