DECLARATION ON THE RIGHT AND RESPONSIBILITY OF INDIVIDUALS,
GROUPS AND ORGANS OF SOCIETY TO PROMOTE AND PROTECT
UNIVERSALLY RECOGNIZED HUMAN RIGHTS AND
FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS
Article 1
Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to promote and to strive for the
protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international
levels.
Article 2
1. Each State has a prime responsibility and duty to protect, promote and implement all human
rights and fundamental freedoms, inter alia , by adopting such steps as may be necessary to
create all conditions necessary in the social, economic, political and other fields, as well as the
legal guarantees required to ensure that all persons under its jurisdiction, individually and in
association with others, are able to enjoy all those rights and freedoms in practice.
2. Each State shall adopt such legislative, administrative and other steps as may be necessary to
ensure that the rights and freedoms referred to in the present Declaration are effectively
guaranteed.
Article 3
Domestic law consistent with the Charter of the United Nations and other international obligations of the
State in the field of human rights and fundamental freedoms is the juridical framework within which human
rights and fundamental freedoms should be implemented and enjoyed and within which all activities
referred to in the present Declaration for the promotion, protection and effective realization of those rights
and freedoms should be conducted.
Article 4
Nothing in the present Declaration shall be construed as impairing or contradicting the purposes and
principles of the Charter of the United Nations or as restricting or derogating from the provisions of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants on Human Rights and other
international instruments and commitments applicable in this field.
Article 5
For the purpose of promoting and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms, everyone has the
right, individually and in association with others, at the national and international levels:
a. To meet or assemble peacefully;
b. To form, join and participate in non-governmental organizations, associations or groups;
c. To communicate with non-governmental or intergovernmental organizations.
Article 6
Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others:
a. To know, seek, obtain, receive and hold information about all human rights and fundamental
freedoms, including having access to information as to how those rights and freedoms are given
effect in domestic legislative, judicial or administrative systems;
b. As provided for in human rights and other applicable international instruments, freely to publish,
impart or disseminate to others views, information and knowledge on all human rights and
fundamental freedoms;
c. To study, discuss, form and hold opinions on the observance, both in law and in practice, of all
human rights and fundamental freedoms and, through these and other appropriate means, to
draw public attention to those matters.
Article 7
Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to develop and discuss new human
rights ideas and principles and to advocate their acceptance.
Article 8
1. Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to have effective access, on a
non-discriminatory basis, to participation in the government of his or her country and in the
conduct of public affairs.
2. This includes, inter alia , the right, individually and in association with others, to submit to
governmental bodies and agencies and organizations concerned with public affairs criticism and
proposals for improving their functioning and to draw attention to any aspect of their work that
may hinder or impede the promotion, protection and realization of human rights and fundamental
freedoms.
Article 9
1. In the exercise of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the promotion and
protection of human rights as referred to in the present Declaration, everyone has the right,
individually and in association with others, to benefit from an effective remedy and to be protected
in the event of the violation of those rights.
2. To this end, everyone whose rights or freedoms are allegedly violated has the right, either in
person or through legally authorized representation, to complain to and have that complaint
promptly reviewed in a public hearing before an independent, impartial and competent judicial or
other authority established by law and to obtain from such an authority a decision, in accordance
with law, providing redress, including any compensation due, where there has been a violation of
that person's rights or freedoms, as well as enforcement of the eventual decision and award, all
without undue delay.
3. To the same end, everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, inter alia :
a. To complain about the policies and actions of individual officials and governmental bodies
with regard to violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms, by petition or other
appropriate means, to competent domestic judicial, administrative or legislative
authorities or any other competent authority provided for by the legal system of the State,
which should render their decision on the complaint without undue delay;
b. To attend public hearings, proceedings and trials so as to form an opinion on their
compliance with national law and applicable international obligations and commitments;
c. To offer and provide professionally qualified legal assistance or other relevant advice and
assistance in defending human rights and fundamental freedoms.
4. To the same end, and in accordance with applicable international instruments and procedures,
everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to unhindered access to and
communication with international bodies with general or special competence to receive and
consider communications on matters of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
5. The State shall conduct a prompt and impartial investigation or ensure that an inquiry takes place
whenever there is reasonable ground to believe that a violation of human rights and fundamental
freedoms has occurred in any territory under its jurisdiction.
Article 10
No one shall participate, by act or by failure to act where required, in violating human rights and
fundamental freedoms and no one shall be subjected to punishment or adverse action of any kind for
refusing to do so.
Article 11
Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to the lawful exercise of his or her
occupation or profession. Everyone who, as a result of his or her profession, can affect the human dignity,
human rights and fundamental freedoms of others should respect those rights and freedoms and comply
with relevant national and international standards of occupational and professional conduct or ethics.
Article 12
1. Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to participate in peaceful
activities against violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
2. The State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent
authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats,
retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a
consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present Declaration.
3. In this connection, everyone is entitled, individually and in association with others, to be protected
effectively under national law in reacting against or opposing, through peaceful means, activities
and acts, including those by omission, attributable to States that result in violations of human
rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as acts of violence perpetrated by groups or individuals
that affect the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Article 13
Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to solicit, receive and utilize resources
for the express purpose of promoting and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms through
peaceful means, in accordance with article 3 of the present Declaration.
Article 14
1. The State has the responsibility to take legislative, judicial, administrative or other appropriate
measures to promote the understanding by all persons under its jurisdiction of their civil, political,
economic, social and cultural rights.
2. Such measures shall include, inter alia :
a. The publication and widespread availability of national laws and regulations and of
applicable basic international human rights instruments;
b. Full and equal access to international documents in the field of human rights, including
the periodic reports by the State to the bodies established by the international human
rights treaties to which it is a party, as well as the summary records of discussions and
the official reports of these bodies.
3. The State shall ensure and support, where appropriate, the creation and development of further
independent national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights and
fundamental freedoms in all territory under its jurisdiction, whether they be ombudsmen, human
rights commissions or any other form of national institution.
Article 15
The State has the responsibility to promote and facilitate the teaching of human rights and fundamental
freedoms at all levels of education and to ensure that all those responsible for training lawyers, law
enforcement officers, the personnel of the armed forces and public officials include appropriate elements
of human rights teaching in their training programme.
Article 16
Individuals, non-governmental organizations and relevant institutions have an important role to play in
contributing to making the public more aware of questions relating to all human rights and fundamental
freedoms through activities such as education, training and research in these areas to strengthen further,
inter alia , understanding, tolerance, peace and friendly relations among nations and among all racial and
religious groups, bearing in mind the various backgrounds of the societies and communities in which they
carry out their activities.
Article 17
In the exercise of the rights and freedoms referred to in the present Declaration, everyone, acting
individually and in association with others, shall be subject only to such limitations as are in accordance
with applicable international obligations and 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.
Article 18
1. Everyone has duties towards and within the community, in which alone the free and full
development of his or her personality is possible.
2. Individuals, groups, institutions and non-governmental organizations have an important role to
play and a responsibility in safeguarding democracy, promoting human rights and fundamental
freedoms and contributing to the promotion and advancement of democratic societies, institutions
and processes.
3. Individuals, groups, institutions and non-governmental organizations also have an important role
and a responsibility in contributing, as appropriate, to the promotion of the right of everyone to a
social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights and other human rights instruments can be fully realized.
Article 19
Nothing in the present Declaration shall be interpreted as implying for any individual, group or organ of
society or any State the right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of
the rights and freedoms referred to in the present Declaration.
Article 20
Nothing in the present Declaration shall be interpreted as permitting States to support and promote
activities of individuals, groups of individuals, institutions or non-governmental organizations contrary to
the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Preamble
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 1
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.
Article 2
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.
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 6
Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.
Article 7
All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal
protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in
violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.
Article 8
Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for
acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.
Article 9
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.
Article 10
Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and
impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any
criminal charge against him.
Article 11
1. Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed
innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he
has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence.
2. No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or
omission which did not constitute a penal offence, under national or
international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier
penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal
offence was committed.
Article 12
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or
correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the
right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.
Article 13
1. Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the
borders of each state.
2. Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to
return to his country.
Article 14
1. Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from
persecution.
2. This right may not be invoked in the case of prosecutions genuinely arising
from non-political crimes or from acts contrary to the purposes and
principles of the United Nations.
Article 15
1. Everyone has the right to a nationality.
2. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to
change his nationality.
Article 16
1. Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality
or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled
to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.
2. Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the
intending spouses.
3. The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is
entitled to protection by society and the State.
Article 17
1. Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with
others.
2. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.
Article 18
Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right
includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in
community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in
teaching, practice, worship and observance.
Article 19
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes
freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart
information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
Article 20
1. Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
2. No one may be compelled to belong to an association.
Article 21
1. Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country,
directly or through freely chosen representatives.
2. Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country.
3. The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this
will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by
universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by
equivalent free voting procedures.
Article 22
Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to
realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in accordance
with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and
cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his
personality.
Article 23
1. Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and
favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.
2. Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal
work.
3. Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration
ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity,
and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.
4. Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of
his interests.
Article 24
Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working
hours and periodic holidays with pay.
Article 25
1. Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and
well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing
and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in
the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or
other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.
2. Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All
children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social
protection.
Article 26
1. Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the
elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be
compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally
available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the
basis of merit.
2. Education shall be directed to the full development of the human
personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and
fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and
friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further
the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.
3. Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be
given to their children.
Article 27
1. Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the
community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its
benefits.
2. Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests
resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the
author.
Article 28
Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and
freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized.
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.
