ABSTRACT

The contemporary human rights paradigm is quite a recent development, sparked by the signing of the UN Charter and the founding of the United Nations in 1945. UN members quickly reached consensus on a common standard of human rights achievement in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1948. The UDHR, while not a treaty and thus not carrying the force of international law, prompted drafting and adoption of key international human rights treaties and other important human rights instruments (Forsythe 2000; Donnelly 2003). The UDHR’s provisions are today reflected in constitutions, laws, and judicial decisions of many nations (Blau and Moncada 2005; Blau and Frezzo 2011). The declaration has also played a role in inspiring social-justice movements around the world.