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Overview of Human Rights Articles 1-30

May 19, 2025

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Articles 1-30)

Article 1: Fundamental Equality

  • All humans are born free and equal in dignity and rights.
  • They possess reason and conscience.
  • Should act towards each other in a spirit of brotherhood.

Article 2: Non-Discrimination

  • Entitlement to all rights and freedoms without distinction (race, color, sex, language, religion, political opinion, national origin, property, birth, or other status).
  • No distinctions based on political, jurisdictional, or international status of a country.

Article 3: Right to Life

  • Everyone has the right to life, liberty, and security of person.

Article 4: Freedom from Slavery

  • No one shall be held in slavery or servitude.
  • Slavery and the slave trade prohibited in all forms.

Article 5: Freedom from Torture

  • No one subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.

Article 6: Right to Recognition

  • Right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.

Article 7: Equality Before the Law

  • All are equal before the law and entitled to equal protection without discrimination.

Article 8: Right to Remedy

  • Right to an effective remedy by competent national tribunals for acts violating fundamental rights.

Article 9: Freedom from Arbitrary Detention

  • No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention, or exile.

Article 10: Right to a Fair Trial

  • Right to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal.

Article 11: Presumption of Innocence

  1. Right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty in a public trial with necessary defense guarantees.
  2. No one held guilty for acts not a penal offense when committed; no heavier penalty than applicable at the time.

Article 12: Right to Privacy

  • No arbitrary interference with privacy, family, home, or correspondence.
  • Right to protection against such interference.

Article 13: Freedom of Movement

  1. Right to freedom of movement and residence.
  2. Right to leave any country and return to one's own.

Article 14: Right to Asylum

  1. Right to seek and enjoy asylum from persecution.
  2. Not applicable in prosecutions for non-political crimes or acts against UN principles.

Article 15: Right to Nationality

  1. Right to a nationality.
  2. No arbitrary deprivation of nationality or denial of right to change it.

Article 16: Right to Marriage

  1. Men and women of full age have the right to marry without limitation due to race, nationality, or religion.
  2. Marriage requires free and full consent of intending spouses.
  3. Family is a fundamental group unit of society entitled to protection.

Article 17: Right to Property

  1. Right to own property alone or in association with others.
  2. No arbitrary deprivation of property.

Article 18: Freedom of Thought

  • Right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, including changing one's religion or belief.

Article 19: Freedom of Expression

  • Right to freedom of opinion and expression, including seeking, receiving, and imparting information through any media.

Article 20: Freedom of Assembly

  1. Right to peaceful assembly and association.
  2. No one compelled to belong to an association.

Article 21: Right to Participate in Government

  1. Right to take part in government directly or through freely chosen representatives.
  2. Equal access to public service.
  3. Government authority based on the will of the people through genuine elections.

Article 22: Right to Social Security

  • Right to social security and realization of economic, social, and cultural rights essential for dignity.

Article 23: Right to Work

  1. Right to work, free choice of employment, and favorable conditions.
  2. Right to equal pay for equal work.
  3. Right to just remuneration ensuring existence worthy of dignity.
  4. Right to form and join trade unions.

Article 24: Right to Rest

  • Right to rest and leisure, including reasonable work hours and paid holidays.

Article 25: Right to Adequate Living Standards

  1. Right to adequate living standards for health and well-being, including food, clothing, housing, and medical care.
  2. Special care and assistance for motherhood and childhood.

Article 26: Right to Education

  1. Right to education; free at elementary stage; technical and higher education accessible based on merit.
  2. Education promotes human personality development and respect for rights and freedoms.
  3. Parents can choose their children's education.

Article 27: Right to Cultural Life

  1. Right to participate in cultural life, enjoy arts, and benefit from science.
  2. Protection of moral and material interests from scientific, literary, or artistic production.

Article 28: Right to a Social Order

  • Right to a social and international order where rights and freedoms can be realized.

Article 29: Duties to Community

  1. Duties to the community enabling free and full personality development.
  2. Rights exercised in accordance with law for respect of others, morality, and public order.
  3. Rights not exercised contrary to UN purposes.

Article 30: Interpretation of the Declaration

  • No interpretation may imply any right to engage in activities or acts aimed at destroying the rights and freedoms set forth in the declaration.