The United Nations Declaration of Human Rights

The United Nations General Assembly made a Universal Declaration of Human Rights in December 1948. It lists the basic rights to which every human being is entitled and should have.

1	The right to equality. All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They should treat each other well.
2	Freedom from discrimination. Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms listed in this Declaration, no matter what their race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, nationality, wealth or status.
3	The right to life, liberty and personal security. Everyone has the right to life, freedom and safety.
4	Freedom from slavery. Everyone shall be safe from slavery; slavery and the slave trade shall be banned in any form.
5	Freedom from torture and degrading treatment. No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
6	The right to recognition as a person before the law. Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.
7	The right to equality before the law. Everyone has the right to be treated fair and equally in law. No one should be discriminated against and no one should encourage others to discriminate.
8	The right not to be discriminated against by the law. Everyone has the right to be treated fairly by courts if their rights are broken.
9	Freedom from unfair arrest and exile. No one shall be subjected to arrest, detention or exile without reason.
10	The right to a fair public hearing. Everyone is equally entitled to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial court if charged with a crime.
11	The right to be considered innocent until proven guilty. Everyone charged an offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty, to have a defence in court, safety from accusations based on rumour, and punishment appropriate to when the crime was committed despite any changes in the law since.
12	Freedom from interference with privacy, family, home and correspondence. Everyone has the right to the protection of their privacy, and maintenance of their reputation.
13	The right to free movement in and out of the country. Everyone has the right move freely and choose where they live in their country, the right to leave this or any country and return.
14	The right to asylum in other countries from persecution. Everyone has the right to seek a country's protection from persecution in their own country, except if they have committed a genuine criminal act.
15	The right to a nationality and the freedom to change it. Everyone has the right to a nationality.No one can have their nationality taken away from them nor denied the right to change their nationality.
16	The right to marriage and a family. Adult men and women, no matter what their race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to have a family. They are entitled to equal rights to marry, during marriage and at its end. No one can be forced to marry; both people must freely agree.
17	The right to own property. Everyone has the right to own property alone or with others without it being taken away unreasonably.
18	Freedom of belief and religion. Everyone has the right to choose how they think, believe and worship.
19	Freedom of opinion and information. Everyone has the right to form and express their opinion without interference. They are free to look for, receive and give information and ideas in any way.
20	The right of peaceful assembly and association. People have the right to meet others peacefully and to belong to an association.No one can be forced to belong to any association.
21	The right to participate in government and free elections. Everyone has the right to take part in government of their country as an elected representative or as a voter, with equal access to government services. People give government authority through free, equal and regular elections, by secret vote or by a similarly free voting method.
22	The right to social security. Everyone has the right to pensions or other government assistance, with dignity.
23	The right to desirable work and trade unions. Everyone has the right to work, to choose their job, to have fair and favourable work conditions and to protection against unemployment. Everyone has the right to equal pay for equal work. Everyone who works has the right to fair pay to make sure they and their family have a life of dignity. Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of their interests.
24	The right to rest and leisure. Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable working hours and fair holidays with pay.
25	The right to an adequate standard of living. Everyone has the right to a standard of living that is adequate for their health and well-being and of their family, including food, clothing, housing, medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond their control. All children shall enjoy the same social protection.
26	The right to education. Everyone has the right to education. Basic education shall be free and compulsory. Technical and further education shall be available and equally accessible to all on the basis of merit. Education should develop a person's full personality and the strengthen a respect for human rights and freedoms, promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace. Parents have a right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.
27	The right to participate in the cultural life of community. Everyone has the right to enjoy the cultural life of the community. Everyone has the right to the protection of any work of which they are the author.
28	The right to a society that lives according to the principles set out in this Declaration. Everyone is entitled to a live in a free and fair world.
29	Community duties ensure full personal development. Everyone has a responsibility to respect others' rights and freedoms while exercising their own.
30	Freedom from interference in the rights of this Declaration. Individuals or governments must use this Declaration honestly without infringing the rights of others.

If you use any part of this in your own work, acknowledge the source in your bibliography like this:
Sydenham, S. & Thomas, R. The United Nations Declaration of Human Rights [online] www.kidcyber.com.au (2009)