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Hillary asked: >Aa very significant document in the history of Mankind. Does > anybody know who the actual authors were? As with many documents of this kind, there is not one author, but a consensus hammered out through countless discussions and meetings. Below is information about its origins from Amnesty International Canadian Section. If anyone would like a plain language version of the Declaration I would be glad to send it via email. Let me know privately at [log in to unmask] ==================== Origins [of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights] In the aftermath of World War 11, when the atrocities committed during that conflict were beginning to be fully realized, the world reacted in horror. The carnage and loss from two world wars, especially the murder of millions of 'undesirables' by Hitler's Nazi regime, led to a call for international action. It was agreed that such sorrow should never be allowed to happen again human rights must be respected. Thus, a United Nations Human Rights Commission, chaired by Eleanor Roosevelt, was given the tremendous task of drafting a document which could satisfy the hopes of the diverse cultures and political systems of the General Assembly of the United Nations, (with a membership of 48 states at that time). Three years of discussion resulted in the "Universal Declaration of Human Rights" (UDHM in 1948 - a statement to the whole world about how all peoples, organizations and governments should behave towards each other. Canada made a significant contribution to this achievement in the work of Dr. John Humphrey, a Canadian law professor, the first executive secretary of the Human Rights Division of the United Nations, and one of the founders of Amnesty International Canada. Dr. Humphrey's task was to prepare a draft of the Universal Declaration from the ideas submitted to the committee by many individuals and nongovernmental organizations in addition to those from member states. He stressed before he died in March 1995, that there was no single author of the Declaration, and that hundreds of people contributed to this international declaration. John Humphrey believed that no contemporary international document. even the Charter of the United Nations, has had more impact or moral authority than the Universal Declaration. The challenge is for all of us to find ways of enforcing the standards set In the UDHR. It is the responsibility of every individual, and every government, to honour this Declaration in order to safeguard freedom and justice. IMPLICATIONS The acceptance of the UDHR in 1948 signified a great step forward in the respect of human rights. This document set the basis for all other human rights law. It was followed by numerous other far-reaching human rights agreements including the 'UN Convention on the Rights of the Child" and the "UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women". to name but two, as well as regional international human rights agreements such as the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights and the American Convention on Human Rights. Although the UDHR is only a declaration and not legally binding, two covenants have been drafted and entered into force in 1976. These are the 'International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights" (ICCPR) and the 'International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights" (ICESCR). In these two covenants, the rights outlined In the Universal Declaration are made more specific. Countries signing these two documents are bound by international law to comply with their commitments to human rights. It is these three documents - the UDHR and the two legally-binding Covenants - that form the basis for the work of Amnesty International. Although we promote the human rights found in the whole UDHR, including the Economic, Social and Cultural Covenant, we take direct action only on some of the rights found within the ICCPR. Promotion within Amnesty International includes education, public awareness and condemnation of violations, but not direct action. Direct action entails the opposing of a human rights violation by requesting the perpetrator, whether it's a government or an opposition group, to make a specific change in order to respect the rights in question. This may happen on a case-by-case basis or when a pattern of abuse becomes apparent. Regardless of whether or not a country has recognized the UDHR or signed the two Covenants, the International community still considers these documents to be international principles that all people should respect. Thus, the human rights contained within these documents are considered universal. Best to everyone, Peter ************************************************************************** Peter Kidd Learning Materials Consulting Services 62 Coronation Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3N 2M6 Canada Tel/FAX: (902) 443-4262 Email: [log in to unmask] URL: http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/~aa163/peterkidd.html