Article by Article

Johannes Morsink is Professor Emeritus of Political Philosophy at Drew University. He is author of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Origins, Drafting, and Intent and Inherent Human Rights: Philosophical Roots of the Universal Declaration, both of which are available from the University of Pennsylvania Press.

• ContentsPrefaceA Note on SourcesPreambleOperative Paragraph: Statement of PurposeArticle 1. Born Free and EqualArticle 2a. NondiscriminationArticle 2b. Colonialism and Systemic RacismArticle 3. Life, Liberty, and Security of PersonArticle 4. Freedom from SlaveryArticle 5. Torture and RelativismArticle 6. Person Before the LawArticle 7. Equality Before the LawArticle 8. Having Fundamental RightsArticle 9. No Arbitrary ArrestArticle 10. Fair Public HearingArticle 11. Innocence and NurembergArticle 12. The Right to PrivacyArticle 13. Freedom of Movement and COVID-19Article 14. The Right to AsylumArticle 15. The Right to a Nationality and StatelessnessArticle 16. Marriage and the FamilyArticle 17. Property and Essential NeedsArticle 18. Freedom of Thought, Conscience, and ReligionArticle 19. Information, Opinion, and ExpressionArticle 20. Freedom of Assembly and AssociationArticle 21. The Right to Participation in GovernmentArticle 22. Social (Security) JusticeArticle 23. The Right to Work TodayArticle 24. Rights to Rest and LeisureArticle 25. Standard of Living and Social SecurityArticle 26. The Right to an EducationArticle 27. Participation in CultureArticle 28. The Right to a (Good) World OrderArticle 29. Duties as LimitationsArticle 30. Indestructible and InherentAcknowledgments

"Johannes Morsink has written a very useful book for scholars, researchers, and students. He presents short histories of the drafting of each Article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, drawn almost exclusively from extensive primary research. The reader has the chance to see how the framers debated various proposals and how they compromised on final wording." (Human Rights Review)