Equal Rights Platform
Human Rights

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 10 December 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights set out, for the first time, fundamental human rights to be universally protected. It remains the foundation of our work.

“All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”
— Article 1
The 30 articles, in brief

Thirty rights. Every person.

  1. 01
    Article 1

    We are all born free and equal in dignity and rights.

  2. 02
    Article 2

    Everyone has these rights, without discrimination of any kind.

  3. 03
    Article 3

    Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security.

  4. 04
    Article 4

    No one shall be held in slavery.

  5. 05
    Article 5

    No one shall be tortured or treated cruelly.

  6. 06
    Article 6

    Everyone is recognized as a person before the law.

  7. 07
    Article 7

    We are all equal before the law.

  8. 08
    Article 8

    Everyone can seek justice when their rights are violated.

  9. 09
    Article 9

    No one shall be arbitrarily arrested, detained or exiled.

  10. 10
    Article 10

    Everyone has the right to a fair and public trial.

  11. 11
    Article 11

    Everyone is innocent until proven guilty.

  12. 12
    Article 12

    Everyone has the right to privacy.

  13. 13
    Article 13

    Everyone may move freely and leave any country.

  14. 14
    Article 14

    Everyone may seek asylum from persecution.

  15. 15
    Article 15

    Everyone has the right to a nationality.

  16. 16
    Article 16

    Adults may marry and found a family with free consent.

  17. 17
    Article 17

    Everyone has the right to own property.

  18. 18
    Article 18

    Everyone has freedom of thought, conscience and religion.

  19. 19
    Article 19

    Everyone has freedom of opinion and expression.

  20. 20
    Article 20

    Everyone may meet and associate peacefully.

  21. 21
    Article 21

    Everyone may take part in the government of their country.

  22. 22
    Article 22

    Everyone has the right to social security.

  23. 23
    Article 23

    Everyone has the right to work, fair pay and to join a union.

  24. 24
    Article 24

    Everyone has the right to rest and leisure.

  25. 25
    Article 25

    Everyone has the right to an adequate standard of living.

  26. 26
    Article 26

    Everyone has the right to education.

  27. 27
    Article 27

    Everyone may take part in cultural life.

  28. 28
    Article 28

    Everyone is entitled to an order in which these rights can be realized.

  29. 29
    Article 29

    We all have duties to our community.

  30. 30
    Article 30

    No one may use this Declaration to destroy these rights.

Read the full Declaration

Summaries by Equal Rights Platform. The official text is the one published by the United Nations.