The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

It was on December 10, 1948, that the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and proclaimed it as “a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations”.

In the course of the last twenty years the Declaration has taken on a life of its own and has played an independent role in individual nations and in the community of nations. It has become a living document which is likely to exert an increasing influence in the year to come.

The first article lays down certain fundamental principles: “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”

The second article states that “everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such asrace, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status”.

Article 3 to 21 deal with personal, civil and political rights, which have long been recognized in the constitutions and laws of the majority of the countries in the world.

Article 3 says that “everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person”. “This may be said to be the most fundamental of personal rights. It is closely related to the articles which follow it: “no one shall be held in slavery or servitude” (article 4); and “no one shall be subjected to tortureor to cruel, inhuman or degradingtreatment orpunishment” (article 5). It should be equally clear that to torture a person, whether mentally or physically, or to treat him in an inhuman manner, destroys the dignity and worth of that person and undermines the very reason for his existence.

Task 2: Write down Russian equivalents for the words and expressions in bold type.

Task 3: Answer the following questions using information from the text:

1. What is the purpose of the United Nations?

2. When did the General Assembly of the United Nations adopt the Universal Declaration?

3. When did the General Assembly proclaim a general principle: “a common standart of achievement for all peoples and all nations?”

4. What fundamental principles does the first article lay down?

5. What does the second article state?

Task 4: Find in the text the English equivalents for the following words and expressions:

Иметь право на жизнь, свобода, защита личности, бесчеловечный, наказание, жестокий, человек, Обьединенные Нации, международное сотрудничество, создание организации Обьединенных Наций, гражданские и политические права, статья формулирует основные принципы.

Task 5: Find in the text the Russian equivalents for the following words and expressions:

Living document, to proclaim, to deal, article states, a common standard, achievement, all peoples and nations, to create, human rights, international cooperation, fundamental freedoms, human beings, national and social origin, birth, majority of the countries, inhuman treatment, punishment, to torture a person.

Task 6: Put the verbs in the correct form:

1. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (to proclaim) “a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations”.

2. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (to become) a living document which is likely to exert an increasing influence in the year to come.

3. Article 3 (to say) that “everyone (to have) the right to life, liberty and security of person”.

Task 7: Insert the articles if necessary:

1. It was on December 10, 1948, that … General Assembly of … United Nations adopted … Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

2. “All … human beings are born free and equal in … dignity and … rights.

3. “Everyone is entitled to all … rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such asrace, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status”.

Task 8: Render the following passage into English paying special attention to the words and expressions in bold type:

Страны, члены Организации Обьединенных Наций, обязаны соблюдать закон о правах человека.

Декларация о правах человека играет важную роль в жизни многих народов и государств.

В современном государстве все права человека должны находится под защитой закона.

Генеральная Ассамблея Обьединенных Наций одобрила Всеобщую Декларацию Прав Человека.

Преподаватель М.С. Смищенко

Преподаватель В.И. Ищенко