Every born human gets some rights as the citizen of this planet, as a part of this civilization and as a member of this global civilisation. These rights are the conclusive evidence that everyone is equal in every aspect and hence be treated with all the dignity, respect, and justice and just like anyone else on this planet.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is the founding document of the basic human rights, which came into force on 10th December 1948, after it was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris. The human rights draft was prepared by representatives with different legal and cultural backgrounds from all regions of the world. Thus, it encompasses the diversity of cultures and emphasises the common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations.
This is why every year on 10th December; United Nation celebrates the anniversary of ‘Universal Declaration of Human Rights’. Therefore on the 71st anniversary of Human Rights Day, let’s learn about the 30 basic human rights enforced by the United Nations.
Article 1: Everyone is born free and should be treated equally. They have their reasons, choices, conscience, thoughts and ideology.
Article 2: Anyone is entitled to all the human rights declared by United Nations and should not be discriminated based on sex, skin colour, language, religion, caste, wealth, things, social group, country, region or anything else.
Article 3: Every individual has all the rights to live freely with liberty and security.
Article 4: No individual can be treated as a slave by any other human and needs to act as a slave for anyone else.
Article 5: No one has the right to torture you, behave with cruelty, inhumanness or poor treatment or punishment.
Article 6: Everyone has all the rights to take the benefit and protection of all the laws as the citizen of this planet and be recognised by the law.
Article 7: The law is the same for everyone; it should be applied in the same way to all.
Article 8: You should be able to ask for legal help when the rights your country grants you are not respected.
Article 9: No one can put you in prison, exile, or detention, in or away from your country, without unjust reasons.
Article 10: Everyone is entitled to a fair, unbiased, independent and impartial hearing in case of a trial. The hearing should be publically done, without any outside influence, without violations of human rights and obligations.
Article 11: Everyone has the right to be considered innocent, have the rights to defend themselves and no one can condemn, punish or accuse you of a crime unless otherwise proved by the court of domestic or international laws.
Article 12: Everyone has the right to protect their privacy and no one can harm your good name, enter your home, open your letters bother your family without any good reason.
Article 13: You have the rights to move freely inside your country between states as well as you can go outside your country, return to your country and can reside anywhere around the world.
Article 14: Everyone has the right to seek the protection of another country if someone tries to hurt them in their own country. However, this right is not exercisable if you have killed someone or do not respect the written human rights yourself.
Article 15: You have all the rights to belong to a country and no one can stop you from doing so. Also, you have all the right to belong to any other country, without good reason.
Article 16: Every person of permitted age is entitled to engage in a married relationship with individuals of their choice, with the equal and free consent of the spouse, start a family. No one should be discriminated based on the colour of skin, country of origin, religious beliefs, and the family and the society of individuals must protect the rights of their members.
Article 17: You can own things alone or with co-own with others and no one has the rights to take things away from you without any reason.
Article 18: You have all the rights to pursue their conscience, religion and belief freely, to change it and to practise other religion, either alone, or with others at any place.
Article 19: You have the right to think, believe, and hold opinions & expressions, that you like and can share them without any boundaies. No one can forbid you from doing so.
Article 20: You have all the rights to conduct peaceful meetings, assemblies, gatherings and no one can stop you. Also, you can’t be forced to form part of a group, gathering or meetings, without your consent.
Article 21: Every citizen has the right to become a part of the government freely, either by himself or through a chosen representative who shares your ideologies and you have equal rights to access public services.
Also, you have the right to vote in public elections which are held periodically and in a genuine manner, and the voting shall be done secretly.
Article 22: Every individual has the rights to social, economic & cultural rights, security, and participation and to take advantage of the work offered to them in every country, through the use of domestic and international resources.
Article 23: Everyone has the rights to work, with the choice of employment, under favourable conditions, with equal and justifiable pay, without any discrimination. Also, they have the rights to protection against unemployment with the freedom to form and join trade unions.
Article 24: No working day should be too long and everyone should get sufficient time to rest and be able to take paid holidays.
Article 25: Everyone has the right to have a standard of living to take care of themselves and their families, in terms of health, clothing, shelter, food, etc. In the event of being unemployed, sick, they have a right to social security & services, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood.
Also, every mother who is going to have a baby and her baby/children has the right to get social help, irrespective of whether or not the mother is married.
Article 26:
Everyone has the right to education and elementary education should be compulsory and free for all. Further, there should be sufficient arrangements for higher and professional studies, and no one shall be denied education on any discriminative grounds like caste, religion, age, country of origin, etc.
The education shall develop an individual in all aspects and promote the idea of human rights and fundamental freedom, with understanding, tolerance and friendship among citizens of all nations without any discrimination.
Parents have the right to choose what kind of education their ward should get from school.
Article 27: Everyone has the rights to indulge in cultural life, enjoy and share arts, sciences, and other communities, and their rights as an artist, writer, scientist etc. must be protected and they must be benefited from their work.
Article 28: Everyone has the right to have a social and international order to protect their rights as a human, locally and worldwide.
Article 29:
Everyone has duties towards the community, within which one can develop their personality, and everyone is entitled to the rights and freedom with such limitations as determined by the law which is made for recognition, respect and protection of such rights and freedom, and in no case, shall these rights be exercised in contrary to the purpose and principles of the United Nations.
Article 30:
Nothing in the said rights can be interpreted by any individual or a society as a right to perform or direct an act towards the aforesaid rights and freedom.
You can read more about the ‘Universal Declaration of Human Rights’ here:
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
And here is a simplified PDF version of all the articles of the declaration.
