12-13-2010, 01:28 PM
The UN General Assembly proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10, 1948, as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations. Its first Article reads: “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.”
The declaration comprises of 30 Articles. Through this declaration, the United Nations has committed itself to the recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family, through cornerstones of freedom, justice and peace in the world. This commitment stems from the UN Charter, which reaffirms the faith of the peoples of the world in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women, and has determined to promote social progress and better standards of life.
The member-states have pledged themselves to strive for the promotion of universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms.
This declaration represented a paradigm attitudinal shift in a post-World War scenario, when the world was scarred by the Holocaust, divided by colonialism and wrecked by inequality. A charter setting out the commitment to the inherent dignity and equality of all human beings, regardless of colour, creed or origin, was, indeed, a bold and daring undertaking. The eradication of colonialism and menace of apartheid are the major contributions of this declaration. Nevertheless, exploitation of smaller and weaker countries and sub-state groups continues through neo-colonialism. Thus, human rights are being violated in a varying degree in almost all countries of the world.
So, more or less with the adoption of the declaration, the Palestine and Kashmir disputes emerged as agenda items for the United Nations. The victors of the World War had decided to shift the Jews problem from Europe to Asia. Thus, the Palestinians were expelled from their homeland to make place for the Jews. More so, the princely state of Kashmir was invaded by the Indian armed forces under the garb of a dubious letter of accession obtained under duress from its ruler. The people of Kashmir revolted; under tremendous pressure caused by public uprising, India approached the UN for settling the issue. The council passed the resolutions for holding a plebiscite in Kashmir; however, India continues to defy these resolutions and holds the Kashmiris in internment.
The declaration comprises of 30 Articles. Through this declaration, the United Nations has committed itself to the recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family, through cornerstones of freedom, justice and peace in the world. This commitment stems from the UN Charter, which reaffirms the faith of the peoples of the world in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women, and has determined to promote social progress and better standards of life.
The member-states have pledged themselves to strive for the promotion of universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms.
This declaration represented a paradigm attitudinal shift in a post-World War scenario, when the world was scarred by the Holocaust, divided by colonialism and wrecked by inequality. A charter setting out the commitment to the inherent dignity and equality of all human beings, regardless of colour, creed or origin, was, indeed, a bold and daring undertaking. The eradication of colonialism and menace of apartheid are the major contributions of this declaration. Nevertheless, exploitation of smaller and weaker countries and sub-state groups continues through neo-colonialism. Thus, human rights are being violated in a varying degree in almost all countries of the world.
So, more or less with the adoption of the declaration, the Palestine and Kashmir disputes emerged as agenda items for the United Nations. The victors of the World War had decided to shift the Jews problem from Europe to Asia. Thus, the Palestinians were expelled from their homeland to make place for the Jews. More so, the princely state of Kashmir was invaded by the Indian armed forces under the garb of a dubious letter of accession obtained under duress from its ruler. The people of Kashmir revolted; under tremendous pressure caused by public uprising, India approached the UN for settling the issue. The council passed the resolutions for holding a plebiscite in Kashmir; however, India continues to defy these resolutions and holds the Kashmiris in internment.