ABSTRACT
The basis on which modern human rights are protected and advanced internationally is the same for religious freedom as it is for other fundamental rights. The UDHR was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on December 10, 1948, without an opposing vote. It is important to note that the UDHR revived basic human rights as part of "natural law", not as part of positive law. Article 18 of the UDHR was, like other enumerated rights, the genesis of further international law for specific human rights protections in the modern era. Throughout the lengthy history of the drafting process of the Declaration, it was clear that it was only the first step in international efforts needed to protect religious freedom. The interconnectedness of rights can be seen more clearly when one looks at the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
