Appendix A: Universal Declaration of Human Rights

JOHN HUMPHREY SOCIETY SIMPLIFIED VERSION [1]

Article 1: Everyone is free and we should all be treated in the same way.

Article 2: Everyone is equal despite differences in skin color, sex, religion or language, for example.

Article 3: Everyone has the right to life and to live in freedom and safety.

Article 4: No one shall be held in slavery and slavery is prohibited.

Article 5: No one has the right to hurt you or to torture you.

Article 6: Everyone has the right to be treated equally by the law.

Article 7: The law is the same for everyone; it should be applied in the same way to all.

Article 8: Everyone has the right to ask for legal help when his or her rights are not respected.

Article 9: No one has the right to imprison you unjustly or expel you from your own country.

Article 10: Everyone has the right to a fair and public trial.

Article 11: Everyone is considered innocent until proven guilty.

Article 12: Everyone has the right to ask for help if someone tries to harm you, but no one can enter your home, open your letters or bother you or your family without a good reason.

Article 13: Everyone has the right to travel as desired.

Article 14: Everyone has the right to go to another country and ask for protection if being persecuted or in danger of being persecuted.

Article 15: Everyone has the right to belong to a country. No one has the right to prevent you from belonging to another country if you wish to.

Article 16: Everyone has the right to marry and have a family.

Article 17: Everyone has the right to own property and possessions.

Article 18: Everyone has the right to practice and observe all aspects of his or her own religion and change his or her religion if he or she wants to.

Article 19: Everyone has the right to say what he or she thinks and to give and receive information.

Article 20: Everyone has the right to peacefully take part in meetings and join associations.

Article 21: Everyone has the right to help choose and take part in the government of his or her country.

Article 22: Everyone has the right to social security and to opportunities to develop skills.

Article 23: Everyone has the right to work for a fair wage in a safe environment and to join a trade union.

Article 24: Everyone has the right to rest and leisure.

Article 25: Everyone has the right to an adequate standard of living and medical help when ill.

Article 26: Everyone has the right to go to school.

Article 27: Everyone has the right to share in his or her community’s cultural life.

Article 28: Everyone must respect the ‘social order’ that is necessary for all these rights to be available.

Article 29: Everyone must respect the rights of others, the community and public property.

Article 30: No one has the right to take away any of the rights in this Declaration.