Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR): What's Up With the Closing Lines?

    Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR): What's Up With the Closing Lines?

      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. (30.1)

      Here, the authors are saying they don't want their words twisted You can't interpret the UDHR as giving you permission to violate human rights. For example, you can't claim freedom of religion if your religion calls on you to make human sacrifices (which would deprive someone of the right to life).

      Note that the closing lines take the message beyond governments and address "any State, group or person." This is significant because governments aren't the only institutions that can violate human rights. Corporations, social groups, and political parties can be pretty good at it, too.

      The responsibility for implementing human rights doesn't just fall on the people in charge. It belongs to everyone.