My picks: Universal Declaration of Human Rights
I’ve read through the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights recently, and would like to share a few of my favorites with you here.
The intro:
the Assembly called upon all Member countries to publicize the text of the Declaration and “to cause it to be disseminated, displayed, read and expounded principally in schools and other educational institutions..”
I don’t recall seeing this posted in any of my schools (or the schools of my children) although I do remember seeing the ten commandments in the elementary school my children attended.
Article 12.
- No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.
I agree, homeland security and related agencies do not.
Article 13.
- (1) Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state.
(2) Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.
Hmmmm. So long as you get the passport, and that requires cooperation from the passport office, which really isn’t happening much these days.
Article 17.
- (1) Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.
(2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.
Can you say Eminent Domain?
Article 19.
- Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
This one is pretty shaky these days too. Net neutrality or Big Telcom knows best?
Article 23.
(1) Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.
Protection from unemployment, what a novel concept.
Article 26.
- (3) Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.
I find this interesting, especially since I have homeschooled and plan to do so again in the very near future.
If you would like to read the entire text (and I highly recommend the reading), you can view the entire text of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights online.
Tags: education, freedoms-rights, politics, privacy-security
