Universal Declaration of Human Rights marks its 75th anniversary

​Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the United Nations on December 10, 1948 in the hope of creating a better world after World War II. It was the first time that countries had agreed to protect fundamental rights and freedoms on a universal scale, for all people. (Image: AFP)

Adoption of UDHR in Paris was hailed by delegates. Although UDHR is not legally binding, it stresses the supremacy of individual rights over those of states. It puts economic, social and cultural freedoms on the same level as civil and political rights. (Image: AFP)

Universal Declaration of Human Rights consists of a preamble and 30 articles setting out fundamental rights and freedoms. Article 1 states that "all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights." And Article 2 says that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms the declaration sets out. (Image: AFP)

​Eleanor Roosevelt led the formal drafting committee and consisted of members of the new Commission on Human Rights from eight countries. Over 50 UN member countries participated in the final drafting in 1948, and the UN General Assembly approved the result on December 10, 1948. (Image: AP)

UDHR inspired more than 70 human rights treaties at global and regional levels, according to the UN.​ UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Turk said, "It inspired the decolonization movement, it inspired the anti-apartheid movement and it inspired freedom fighters all around the world, be it on gender issues, be it on LGBTIQ+ issues, be it against racism." (Image: Reuters)

The drafting committee first met in 1947 under the chairmanship of Eleanor Roosevelt. Several women played key roles in the drafting, namely Hansa Mehta. She is widely credited with changing Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights from "All men are born free and equal" to "All human beings are born free and equal". (Image: BCCL)

United Declaration of Human Rights also inspired the "right to intervene" in another country on humanitarian grounds, as championed by former French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner, who co-founded Doctors Without Borders (MSF). (Image: AFP)

As UDHR marks it Seventy-five anniversary, there are calls for it to be updated, for example, to incorporate challenges such as climate change, mass migration and modern technologies. (Agencies)