Overview

Adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 10, 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) sets out fundamental human rights to be universally protected. The UDHR contains 30 Articles. Articles 1–2 state the Declaration’s basic principles; Articles 3–21 set out civil and political rights; Articles 22–27 outline economic, social and cultural rights; Articles 28–30 cover community duties, limits, and implementation. Though not a binding treaty, the UDHR has been enormously influential, inspiring subsequent treaties, national constitutions, and international norms. Below is a compact, article-by-article summary that you can use for teaching, reference, or classroom handouts.

UDHR — Article-by-Article Summary

Article Right Summary
1 Dignity & Equality All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights; they should act toward one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
2 Non-discrimination Everyone is entitled to rights and freedoms without distinction of race, colour, sex, language, religion, political opinion, national origin, property, birth or other status.
3 Right to Life, Liberty, Security Everyone has the right to life, liberty, and personal security.
4 Freedom from Slavery No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade are prohibited in all forms.
5 Freedom from Torture No one shall be subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
6 Recognition before the Law Everyone has the right to recognition as a person before the law.
7 Equality before the Law All are equal before the law and are entitled without discrimination to equal protection of the law.
8 Right to Remedy Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by competent national courts for acts violating fundamental rights.
9 Freedom from Arbitrary Arrest No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.
10 Fair Public Hearing Everyone is entitled to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal in the determination of rights and obligations or of any criminal charge.
11 Presumption of Innocence & Penal Rights Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty; penal proceedings must follow due process and prohibit retroactive criminal laws.
12 Privacy No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks on honour or reputation.
13 Freedom of Movement Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within a state, and the right to leave any country and to return to one’s own country.
14 Right to Asylum Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy asylum from persecution in other countries, subject to national laws and obligations.
15 Nationality Everyone has the right to a nationality; no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of nationality or denied the right to change it.
16 Marriage & Family Adults have the right to marry and found a family without limitation due to race, nationality or religion; marriage must be entered into with free consent and is entitled to protection by society and the state.
17 Property Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others; no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of property.
18 Freedom of Thought & Religion Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, including changing religion or belief and manifesting it in teaching, practice, worship and observance.
19 Freedom of Opinion & Expression Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression, including seeking, receiving and imparting information and ideas through any media.
20 Freedom of Assembly & Association Everyone has the right to peaceful assembly and association, including the right to form and join trade unions for protection of interests.
21 Political Participation Everyone has the right to take part in the government of their country directly or through freely chosen representatives; the will of the people is the basis of authority of government.
22 Social Security Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and to realization of economic, social and cultural rights necessary for dignity and free development.
23 Work & Employment Rights Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work, and to protection against unemployment; equal pay for equal work and the right to form/join trade unions are guaranteed.
24 Rest & Leisure Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.
25 Standard of Living Everyone has the right to an adequate standard of living for health and well-being, including food, clothing, housing, medical care and necessary social services; mothers and children are entitled to special care and assistance.
26 Education Everyone has the right to education; elementary education should be free and compulsory, and education should promote respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.
27 Cultural Rights & Participation Everyone has the right freely to participate in cultural life, enjoy the arts, and share in scientific advancement and its benefits; authors have the right to protection of moral and material interests from their works.
28 Social & International Order Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in the Declaration can be fully realized.
29 Responsibilities & Limits Everyone has duties to the community and is subject to limitations of rights prescribed by law to secure recognition and respect for others’ rights and to meet the just requirements of morality, public order and general welfare.
30 Prohibition on Abrogation Nothing in the Declaration may be interpreted as allowing any state, group or person to engage in activities aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.

For classroom use: consider pairing each article with a historical example or national law to illustrate how rights are interpreted and protected in practice.

Further Reading & Resources

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