"Universal," in the way it's framed in the UDHR, means "the same for everyone." If something is universal, it applies as equally to you as to someone on the other side of the world. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is all about declaring what people have in common, not what makes them different.
That's why equality underlies the entire philosophy of the declaration. The rights listed in this text are, by definition, supposed to belong to everyone—not just the rich, the ruling party, a certain race, or one gender. The list demands equality across the entire spectrum of civic society—from the courts to marriage to the workplace. We're all on the same team, according to the UDHR.
The drafters of the declaration knew how easy it was for the haves of the world to get more at the expense of the have nots. The emphasis on equality was a bold move, a strong moral stance in a world where equal opportunity was a pipe dream. Just ask George Orwell.
Questions About Equality
- What's the difference between political equality and economic equality?
- Why does the declaration place an emphasis on equality before the law?
- Is it really possible for a society to be fully equal? Why or why not?
- How does the idea of equality contrast with Nazi ideology during the World War II era?
Chew on This
The declaration doesn't say everyone is the same, only that everyone should be given the same chances to have a safe, healthy, and dignified life.
Good luck with that, United Nations. Inequality can't be eliminated by a declaration.