The Universal Declaration on Human Rights is 70
Introduction
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a milestone document in the history of human rights. Drafted by representatives with different legal and cultural backgrounds from all regions of the world, the Declaration was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on 10 December 1948 (General Assembly resolution 217 A) as a common standard of achievements for all peoples and all nations. It sets out, for the first time, fundamental human rights to be universally protected and it has been translated into over 500 languages.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was the product of the UN Commission on Human Rights, which was established by the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in June 1946. After three main Sessions from January 1947 to June 1948, the Drafting Committee of the Commission produced its first draft for approval by the United Nations General Assembly in August 1948. The Commission was chaired by Eleanor Roosevelt (United States) and other Members of the Committee included Professor René Cassin (France), Mr. Paal Berg (Norway), Mr. Fernand Dehousse (Belgium), Mr. Victor Paul Haya de la Torre (Peru) , Dr John C.H Wu (Republic of China) and K.C Neogi (India) among others.
At the Archives
At the UN Archives, human rights records are part of the sub-fonds of the Department of Social Affairs (1946-1955), Human Rights Division.
Section I - The American Law Institute - International Bill of Rights Project (S-0918-0001 to S-0918-0004)
Section II- The American Law Institute- Ad-hoc Committee on Forced Labour (S-0918-0005 to S-0918-0022 and S-0918-0070 to S-0918-0078)
Section III- Status of Women (S-0918-0023 to S-0918-0025)
Section V- Ad-hoc Committee on Prisoners of War (S-0918-0026 to S-0918-0069)
Human Rights and the Status of Women
Letter from Liaison Committee of Women's International Organizations with a proposal of names to the UN Commission on Human Rights and the Status of Women (October 1946)
Letter from UN Human Rights Division Director (John P Humphrey) to the World Union of Women for International Concord intending to bring to the attention to the Commission on Human rights the basic principle of equality of sexes (February 1947)
Letter to Eleanor Roosevelt, as Chair of the UN Human Rights Commission from a group of emigrant Ukrainian Women in Austria (June 1947)
Human Rights Committee Questionnaire on the Status of Women in Trust Territories (March 1947)
Work of Commission on Human Rights
Composition of the UN Economic and Social Commissions, including the Commission on Human rights and the Sub-Commissions (May 1946)
Draft of Resolution of General Assembly when adopting the International Bill or Rights, with Comments from Human Rights Commission 1947
Work of the Commission on Human Rights and Relations with Member States
Work of the Commission on Human Rights and Relations with the Public