During World War II, the Allies adopted the Four Freedoms—freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom from fear, and freedom from want—as their basic war aims.[8][9] The United Nations Charter "reaffirmed faith in fundamental human rights, and dignity and worth of the human person" and committed all member states to promote "universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion".[10]
When the atrocities committed by Nazi Germany became fully apparent after World War II, the consensus within the world community was that the United Nations Charter did not sufficiently define the rights to which it referred.[11][12] A universal declaration that specified the rights of individuals was necessary to give effect to the Charter's provisions on human rights...
British representatives were extremely frustrated that the proposal had moral but no legal obligation.[20] (It was not until 1976 that the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights came into force, giving a legal status to most of the Declaration.)...
The Universal Declaration was adopted by the General Assembly as Resolution 217 on 10 December 1948 in Palais de Chaillot, Paris, as the third United Nations General Assembly was held there.[21] Of the then 58 members[22] of the United Nations, 48 voted in favour, none against, eight abstained[23][24] and Honduras and Yemen failed to vote or abstain.[25]
The meeting record[26] provides firsthand insight into the debate. South Africa's position can be seen as an attempt to protect its system of apartheid, which clearly violated several articles in the Declaration.[23] The Saudi Arabian delegation's abstention was prompted primarily by two of the Declaration's articles: Article 18, which states that everyone has the right "to change his religion or belief"; and Article 16, on equal marriage rights.[23] The six communist countries abstentions centred around the view that the Declaration did not go far enough in condemning fascism and Nazism.[27] However, Eleanor Roosevelt attributed the abstention of Soviet bloc countries to Article 13, which provided the right of citizens to leave their countries.[28]
Other countries only gained sovereignty and joined the United Nations later,[31] which explains the relatively small number of states entitled to the historical vote, and in no way reflects opposition to the universal principles
Universal Declaration of Human Rights - Wikipedia
