Whereas, Whereas, Whereas…
The opening paragraphs state the reasons why the world needs a Universal Declaration of Human Rights. They are:
- To recognize the dignity of all humans.
- To respond to abuses of human rights during World War II.
- To protect human rights by rule of law.
- To help the nations of the world get along with each other.
- To improve standards of life for people everywhere.
- Because the members of the United Nations had agreed to pursue the protection of human rights. (That was the whole aim of the organization during the war.)
- And last, but most definitely not least, in order for everyone to agree on a definition of what human rights are.
The last paragraph of the preamble declares the UDHR as the "standard" that everyone (that is, all the member nations) should aspire to, using their full resources and "every organ of society" (Preamble.8). The UDHR is not an actual law, but more like a code of conduct.