Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR): Articles 22-27: Economic and Social Rights Summary

Yay, Work

  • Article 22: all people everywhere have the right to "social security" (22.1). The resources of the state are to be used to give everyone the rights necessary to have dignity. In other words, you can't really be free if you're jobless, destitute, and starving.
  • Article 23: everyone has the right to work and to choose their form of work. You're even free to work 100-hour weeks (if you're interested in entry-level finance). Also, everyone has the right to fair working conditions and to be protected against unemployment.
  • There should be equal pay for equal work.
  • Everyone who works has the right to dignified living conditions. As long as you're contributing something to society, you should be entitled to a fair standard of living.
  • And if your job doesn't pay enough to provide that, the government should consider pitching in a little extra.
  • Everyone has the right to join unions, or organizations of workers that advocate for employees' rights.
  • Article 24: everyone has the right to take a break from work once in a while. Did you hear that, programmers/brokers/consultants/Stephen King? Also, everyone has to get paid holidays.
  • Article 25: everyone has the right to food, clothing, housing, and health care.
  • Everyone has the right to security and protection against things that threaten their livelihoods, like sickness and unemployment.
  • Mothers and children get special protection. All children are protected regardless of whether their parents are married.
  • Article 26: everyone has the right to free basic education.
  • Elementary education is mandatory. Sorry, kids, but it's for your own good.
  • Higher education should be available to all based on merit, not on whether your family can afford tuition.
  • Education should be well-rounded and emphasize human rights and freedom. In other words, even engineering majors should have to read a book once in a while.
  • Education should also promote certain values, like racial tolerance and cooperation between nations.
  • Parents can choose what kind of education their children get.
  • Article 27: everyone has the right to participate in culture, the arts, and scientific learning.
  • Copyright warning: anything deriving from your intellectual work in science or art is protected.