PREAMBLE
Whereas, the realisation in practice of the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights depends on the intellectual and emotional acceptance by the people of
the universal human values on which these rights are founded,
Whereas, disregard and contempt for human values have resulted in barbarous
acts that have outraged the conscience of humanity,
Whereas, it is essential to promote the development and acceptance of basic
human values by the peoples of all nations to usher in a world order based on
freedom, truth, reason, and compassion,
Whereas, the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter and the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirmed their faith in the dignity and
worth of the human person and have determined to promote social and cultural
progress in peace and harmony, and
Whereas, the common understanding and acceptance of these universal human
values is of the greatest importance for the realisation of this pledge,
Now therefore the General Assembly of the United Nations proclaims this
Universal Declaration of Human Values as a common ideal of attainment for all
peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every section
of society shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for
these values and make all efforts national and international to secure their
universal and effective recognition among the peoples of the world.
Article 1:
Source of Values: Dignity of the human person as an autonomous agent endowed
with reason is the ultimate source of all values.
Article 2:
Reason: Reason is an essential human faculty in promoting the progress of
humankind enabling human beings to have a world-view that motivates their
thoughts and actions. Cultivation of rational thinking is, therefore, an
intrinsic human value.
Article 3:
Critical Intelligence: The essential nature of human beings is to question,
examine, and understand. It is necessary to subject all beliefs to the
scrutiny of reason and critical intelligence, in order to eliminate error. An
unexamined belief is not worth having.
Article 4:
Truth: The aim of all rational thought is the discovery of truth. Truth
consists of beliefs about reality resulting from rational thinking and
experience. Quest for truth is, therefore, a supreme human value.
Article 5:
Tolerance: Tolerance of differing ideas and view-points is essential for the
discovery of truth. Absence of tolerance leads to denial of freedom and the
suppression of creativity. Tolerance is, therefore, a basic human value.
Article 6:
Creativity: All social progress is the result of human creativity. Rooted in
the individuality of a human being, creativity can flourish only in an
atmosphere of freedom.
Article 7:
Freedom: Respect for the dignity of the human person demands that the freedom
of every human being ought to be ensured in all spheres of life, consistent
with the freedom of all.
Article 8:
Equality: Respect for the human person implies that all human beings shall be
treated as equal in dignity and rights irrespective of race, nationality,
belief or non-belief, colour, gender, age, or sexual orientation.
Article 9:
Justice: The principle of justice which dictates equal consideration, for the
well-being of every individual shall inform all social institutions and
relations between individuals.
Article 10:
Humankind and Nature: Man being a part of nature necessitates his living in
harmony with it. Concern for all life and the quality of the environment
ought to guide all human activities.
Article 11:
Universal Culture: It should be the aim of all human endeavour to evolve a
universal culture based on freedom, truth, reason, and compassion.
