Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Article 1.
On December 10, 1948 the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Following this historic act the Assembly called upon all
Member countries to publicize the text of the Declaration and "to cause it to be disseminated,
displayed, read and expounded principally in schools and other educational institutions, without
distinction based on the political status of countries or territories."
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with
reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
PREAMBLE
Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without
distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other
opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no
distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status
of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust,
non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.
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,
Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which
have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human
beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has
been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people,
Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to
rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the
rule of law,
Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations,
Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in
fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal
rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better
standards of life in larger freedom,
Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in co-operation with the
United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights
and fundamental freedoms,
Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest
importance for the full realization of this pledge,
Now, Therefore, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY proclaims
THIS UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that
every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind,
shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms
and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and
effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States
themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.
Article 2.
Article 3.
Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.
Article 4.
No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be
prohibited in all their forms.
Article 5.
No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or
punishment. …
Article 29.
(1) Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of
his personality is possible.
(2) In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such
limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition
and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of
morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society.
(3) These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and
principles of the United Nations.
Article 30.
Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person
any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any
of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.
9.
Some Vocabulary from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
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to be entitled to sth. = to have the right to something
to compel = to force or necessitate (often: to be compelled to do sth)
to disregard sth = not to respect sth or not to pay attention to sth
freedom from fear = the liberty to live without fear
freedom of speech = the liberty to say your opinion (but not to lie about people)
human being = un ser humano
mankind = humanity
member states = states that are members of the UN, the EU or some other
association of states
on the basis of = en base a
outrage = a feeling of strong anger for a justifiable reason / to be outraged
pledge = a promise (una promesa o un compromiso fuerte)
to pledge yourself = to make a promise to do sth
punishment = an unpleasant thing others force you to do because you previously
did some unacceptable act (castigo)
to punish = castigar
slavery = esclavitud / a slave = un esclavo
sovereignty = when a state is in control of its own governance (soberania);
sovereign (adj)
standard of living/standard of life = nivel de vida
to that end = to try to achieve that objective
worth = value; e.g. to be worth X = to have the value of X
The administration of the university tries to take student demands into
consideration, but they _________________ many student demands (they don’t
do what the students want).
10. Some Catalans, including many members of the ERC, would like Catalonia to
have its own __________________, and not to be a part of Spain.
11. Do you realize that that is a Picasso? It’s ________________ millions of euros!
12. The winners of Oscars are chosen _____________________ their talents (at
least in theory!)
13. You have spent months and months writing your book! And to what
____________? Is it worth publishing?
14. Many students are ______________ to get a job in order to pay all their
expenses.
MATCHING - PREAMBLE
Match these clauses with the corresponding “whereas” clauses in the Preamble of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
a)
Considering that all the members of the UN have recognized the value of human
rights and the equality of all people, and seek to improve living conditions,
b)
Considering that freedom, justice and peace must be based on recognition of the
rights and dignity of all humans,
1.
Many people in the world are _____________ by the Americans’ treatment of
prisoners at Guantanamo Bay.
c)
Considering that human rights must truly be protected by laws, to make it
unnecessary to rebel against oppression,
2.
The UN is collecting money to help earthquake victims. Please make a
_______________ to give some money, and you can pay it at a later date.
d)
Considering that it is essential for all Member States to agree on what rights and
freedoms should be protected,
3.
Under Franco’s regime, no one could express a negative opinion of the
government. There was no _________________________.
e)
Considering that it is extremely important to encourage good relations between states,
f)
4.
If you work for two years and then lose your job, you are _________________ to
get unemployment benefits for a time.
5.
The high _____________________ of people in Western countries is partly
possible thanks to the fact that the poor countries are being robbed of their labor
and resources.
Considering that lack of respect for human rights has resulted in terrible and shocking
occurrences, and because we humans aspire to create a world that allows liberty to
express one’s opinion and follow any religion, but simultaneously eliminates fear and
necessity,
g)
Considering that the Member States of the U.N. have promised to work toward
worldwide respect for fundamental rights and freedoms,
6.
In the American colonies, Africans or Native Americans were used as
_______________ for a few centuries by the Spanish and the English.
7.
At present, there are 27 ____________________ in the European Union.
8.
The police caught him driving at 180 km per hour. He was
____________________ with a fine of 300 euros.