Feminist Daily News Wire
December-10-08

At 60th Anniversary, Universal Declaration on Human Rights May Expand

On the anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights (UDHR) today, the European Union (EU) aims to expand the Declaration to include condemnation of the criminalization of same-sex relationships. An EU delegation will present their proposed amendment to the Declaration at the UN General Assembly today, according to the Christian Science Monitor. UDHR was originally adopted by the United States and 47 other UN member states in 1948.

The declaration addresses a wide range of fundamental rights deserved by every human being and has served as the groundwork for other global human rights instruments. Among international conventions and declarations, UDHR was influential in the creation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), which was adopted by the UN in 1979. The United States has yet to ratify CEDAW.

More information from the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights is available on the UDHR's 60th Anniversary is available here.

Media Resources: Christian Science Monitor 12/9/08, UN Declaration of Human Rights, Feminist Majority Foundation, UN Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights

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