The Binding Nature of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Abstract

On 10 December 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, considering it an ideal to be followed by all peoples and nations. Every member of society has a duty to respect and uphold these rights and freedoms. These principles are affirmed through national and international standards and effective global practice.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights carries a shared moral and ethical value for all humanity, having become a reference for states.

These principles have been enshrined in the domestic laws of states and in international conventions, which has given them the character of peremptory norms, particularly through practice.