The Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Origins, Drafting, and Intent (Pennsylvania Studies in Human Rights)

In his 1941 State of the Union message President Franklin Roosevelt called for the protection worldwide of four essential freedoms: "the freedom of speech and expression, the freedom of worship, the freedom from want, and the freedom from fear". Roosevelt's enunciation of these freedoms was part of a movement that gathered strength in the 1940s and strived to make the protection of human rights part of the conditions for peace at the end of World War II. In 1947 Eleanor Roosevelt was elected to be the chair of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights that was charged to produce a separate document for this purpose. The resulting Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted in 1948, has become the moral backbone of more than two hundred human rights instruments that are now a part of our world. The document has been a source of hope and inspiration to thousands of groups and millions of oppressed individuals. Johannes Morsink offers a behind-the-scenes account of the Declaration's origins and development. He reports on the detailed discussions that took place in the United Nations, tells us which countries argued for or against each provision of the Declaration, explains why certain important amendments were rejected, and shows how common revulsion toward the Holocaust provided the consensus needed to adopt this universal code of ethics. The Universal Declaration Of Human Rights, Adopted In 1948, Has Become The Moral Backbone Of More Than Two Hundred Human Rights Instruments That Are Now A Part Of Our World. The Document Has Been A Source Of Hope And Inspiration To Thousands Of Groups And Millions Of Oppressed Individuals. Johannes Morsink Offers A Behind-the-scenes Account Of The Declaration's Origins And Development. He Reports On The Detailed Discussions That Took Place In The United Nations, Tells Us Which Countries Argued For Or Against Each Provision Of The Declaration, Explains Why Certain Important Amendments Were Rejected, And Shows How Common Revulsion Toward The Holocaust Provided The Consensus Needed To Adopt This Universal Code Of Ethics.--jacket. The Drafting Process Explained -- World War Ii As Catalyst -- Colonies, Minorities, And Women's Rights -- Privacy And Different Kinds Of Property -- The Socialist Shape Of Work-related Rights -- Social Security, Education, And Culture -- Duties And Communities -- Article 1, The Preamble, And The Enlightenment. Johannes Morsink. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [337]-378). Selected by Choice magazine as an Outstanding Academic Book for 1999Born of a shared revulsion against the horrors of the Holocaust, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights has become the single most important statement of international ethics. It was inspired by and reflects the full scope of President Franklin Roosevelt's famous four freedoms: "the freedom of speech and expression, the freedom of worship, the freedom from want, and the freedom from fear." Written by a UN commission led by Eleanor Roosevelt and adopted in 1948, the Declaration has become the moral backbone of more than two hundred human rights instruments that are now a part of our world. The result of a truly international negotiating process, the document has been a source of hope and inspiration to thousands of groups and millions of oppressed individuals When the United Nations was founded in San Francisco in 1945 there was tremendous pressure on the delegates to that founding conference to include an international bill of rights in the Charter of the United Nations.