Plain Language UDHR

What are Human Rights?

Human rights are the rights that every human being possesses just by nature of being born. They are universal, equal, inalienable and interdependent. Although human rights are seldom fully realized, the fact that they may be violated does not diminish the existence of these rights. The international human rights movement seeks to advance the fulfillment of the human rights of all people. These human rights have been defined by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Article 1: All humans are born free and equal in dignity and rights.

Article 2: Everyone is entitled to all these rights and no discrimination may be made on the basis of race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. These rights apply to all no matter where they live.

Article 3: Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security.

Article 4: Slavery and forced servitude in all its forms is prohibited.

Article 5: Torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment is prohibited in all circumstances.

Article 6: Everyone everywhere is a person before the law.

Article 7: All are equal before the law and must be equally protected by the law.

Article 8: Everyone has the right to remedy by the courts when their fundamental rights are violated.

Article 9: No arbitrary arrest, detention or exile is permitted.

Article 10: Everyone has the right to a fair and public trial by an independent court when charged with a crime.

Article 11: When charged with a criminal offense, everyone has the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty by a trial in which the rights of the accused are protected. No one can be charged for an offense that was not a crime when it was committed.

Article 12: Everyone has a right to privacy of correspondence, within his or her family and in his or her home.

Article 13: Everyone has the right to freedom of movement within the borders of each state and the right to leave any country, including his or her own, and to return to that country.

Article 14: Everyone has the right to seek and enjoy asylum in other countries when persecuted by his or her own.

Article 15: Everyone has the right to a nationality.

Article 16: Men and women of full age have the right to marry and found a family. They are entitled to equal rights to marriage, during marriage and in its dissolution. Marriage must be entered into with the fee and full consent of intending spouses and no discrimination is allowed on the basis of race, nationality or religion.

Article 17: Everyone has the right to own property.

Article 18: Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion (including the exercise of religion)

Article 19: Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression.

Article 20: Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.

Article 21: Everyone has the right to participate in the governance of his or her country directly or indirectly through periodic and genuine elections.

Article 22: Everyone has the right to the economic, social and cultural rights necessary to live a life of dignity.

Article 23: Everyone has the right to work, equal pay for equal work, just and favorable wages worthy of human dignity and the right to form and join trade unions.

Article 24: Everyone has the right to rest and leisure including limitations on working hours. (No sweatshop labor).

Article 25: Everyone has the right to an adequate standard of living to meet the basic needs of his or her family including food, clothing, housing and medical care.

Article 26: Everyone has the right to an education.

Article 27: Everyone has the right to participate in the cultural life of the community and to benefit from scientific advances.

Article 28: Everyone is entitled to a social and international order that protects these rights.

Article 29: Everyone has duties to the community of which he or she is a part and the law should guarantee your rights as well as the rights of others.

Article 30: Nothing in this declaration may be interpreted as allowing any state, group or person the right to engage in any behavior that would violate the rights or freedoms outlined here.

This plain language version of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights has been prepared for you by the Albion College Human Rights Lab. To view the official document, visit the United Nations webpage.