"Human Rights" in the U.S. is used solely to talk about
political rights . I reproduce below the entire text of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights. It appears that the U.S. could be held in
violation in practice, of articles 12,18,19,21.2,23.2,25,26.3,27.2,
though all of them may be arguable on the basis of vagueness of
language.
THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
WHEREAS recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and
inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of
freedom, justice and peace in the world,
WHEREAS disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in
barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the
advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and
belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest
aspiration of the common people,
WHEREAS it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have
recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression,
that human rights should be protected by the rule of law,
WHEREAS it is essential to promote the development of friendly
relations between nations,
WHEREAS the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter
reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and
worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have
determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in
larger freedom,
WHEREAS Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in co-
operation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for
and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms,
WHEREAS a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of
the greatest importance for the full realisation of this pledge,
Now, therefore, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY proclaims this Universal
Declaration of Human Rights as a common standard of achievement for all
peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ
of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by
teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and
by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their
universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples
of the Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under
their jurisdiction.
ARTICLE 1. All human beings are born free and equal in dignity
and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act
towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
ARTICLE 2. Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms
set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as
race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national
or social origin, property, birth or other status.
Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the
political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or
territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-
self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.
ARTICLE 3. Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security
of person.
ARTICLE 4. No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery
and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.
ARTICLE 5. No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel,
inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
ARTICLE 6. Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a
person before the law.
ARTICLE 7. All are equal before the law and are entitled without
any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to
equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this
Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.
ARTICLE 8. Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the
competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights
granted him by the constitution or by law.
ARTICLE 9. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest,
detention or exile.
ARTICLE 10. Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and
public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the
determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge
against him.
ARTICLE 11. (1) Everyone charged with a penal offence has the
right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to
law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees
necessary for his defence.
(2) No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of
any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offence, under
national or international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor
shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the
time the penal offence was committed.
ARTICLE 12. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference
with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his
honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law
against such interference or attacks.
ARTICLE 13. (1) Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and
residence within the borders of each State.
(2) Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his
own, and to return to his country.
ARTICLE 14. (1) Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in
other countries asylum from persecution.
(2) This right may not be invoked in the case of prosecutions
genuinely arising form non-political crimes or from acts contrary to the
purposes and principles of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 15. (1) Everyone has the right to a nationality.
(2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor
denied the right to change his nationality.
ARTICLE 16. (1) Men and women of full age, without any limitation
due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found
a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage
and at its dissolution.
(2) Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full
consent of the intending spouses.
(3) The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of
society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.
ARTICLE 17. (1) Everyone has the right to own property alone as
well as in association with others.
(2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.
ARTICLE 18. Everyone has the right to freedom of thought,
conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion
or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in
public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching,
practice, worship and observance.
ARTICLE 19. Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and
expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without
interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through
any media and regardless of frontiers.
ARTICLE 20. (1) Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful
assembly and association.
(2) No one may be compelled to belong to an association.
ARTICLE 21. (1) Everyone has the right to take part in the
government of his country, directly or through chosen representatives.
(2) Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in
his country.
(3) The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of
government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections
which shall be held by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by
secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.
ARTICLE 22. Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to
social security and is entitled to realisation, through national effort and
international co-operation and in accordance with the organisation and
resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights
indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality.
ARTICLE 23. (1) Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of
employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection
against unemployment.
(2) Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal
pay for equal work.
(3) Everyone has the right to just and favourable remuneration
ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity,
and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.
(4) Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for
the protection of his interests.
ARTICLE 24. Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including
reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.
ARTICLE 25. (1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living
adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family,
including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social
services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness,
disability, widowhood, old age and other lack of livelihood in
circumstances beyond his control.
(2) Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and
assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy
the same social protection.
ARTICLE 26. (1) Everyone has the right to education. Education
shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages.
Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional
education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be
equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.
(2) Education shall be directed to the full development of the
human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and
fundamental freedoms. It shall 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.
(3) Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education
that shall be given their children.
ARTICLE 27. (1) Everyone has the right to freely participate in
the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in
scientific advancement and its benefits.
(2) Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and
material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic
production of which he is the author.
ARTICLE 28. Everyone is entitled to a social and international
order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be
fully realised.
ARTICLE 29. (1) Everyone has duties to the community in which
alone the free and full development of is personality is possible.
(2) In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be
subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the
purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms
of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order
and the general welfare in a democratic society.
(3) These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary
to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 30. Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as
implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity
or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and
freedoms set forth herein.
ADOPTED BY THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY
10 DECEMBER 1948