Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Definition

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a document adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948 that outlines basic rights and freedoms to which all individuals are entitled.

Analogy

Think of the UDHR as a global rulebook for human rights. Just like how a school handbook sets out rules and expectations for students, the UDHR does this on an international scale, outlining what every person deserves simply by being human.

Related terms

Human Rights: These are rights inherent to all human beings, regardless of race, sex, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion or any other status. They include the right to life and liberty, freedom from slavery and torture, freedom of opinion and expression etc.

United Nations (UN): An international organization formed in 1945 to increase political and economic cooperation among its member countries. It's like the world's referee ensuring everyone plays fair.

Genocide Convention: A treaty ratified by UN members in 1951 that defines genocide in legal terms based on events during World War II; it's essentially a law against mass murder based on group identity.