Sevara Ishmuratova

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is the great charter of human rights in the modern world. It is the first international legal instrument that embodies universal values, political, socio-economic, and cultural human rights and freedoms. The adoption of this document has become an important milestone in the development of international relations.

In June 1946, in the wake of deadliest conflict the world had ever seen, the newly created United Nations Economic and Social Council established the Commission on Human Rights. In 1948, the activities of the UN Commission on Human Rights was at the center of attention around the world. This committee was chaired by the American political figure, diplomat, human rights activist, the wife of President Franklin Roosevelt and US Representative to the United Nations Eleanor Roosevelt who had worked on the document that today has become a Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The initiator of the Declaration Eleanor Roosevelt first called it the “Great Charter of Human Rights”, which was formally adopted on December 10, 1948.

The Universal Declaration – the most translated document in the world, available in more than 500 languages - is as relevant today as it was on the day when it was proclaimed[1]. A testimony to it has universal character and widespread. The current document serves as a model for many new, independent constitutions and new democracies, and has become a criterion for thinking and distinguishing what is good and what is evil in our minds.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights contains thirty articles which empathize that the inherent dignity and equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world. They have the right to enjoy property, right to life, family relationships, citizenship, privacy, and employment, as it is natural for everyone to breathe, the path of democratic development in the world today, all the country’s constitutions and legislation based on the ideas set forth in the articles of the declaration.

The organization and association that promotes international and regional law enforcement and legal awareness among the population has also recognized the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as the main supporter of its work. Among such institutions, there is the National Human Rights Centre of the Republic of Uzbekistan which has been working on the State-based analysis, consultations, interagency coordination and monitoring of the Implementation of International Law on the universally recognized principles and norms of human rights and freedoms, the provisions and laws of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, decrees of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the process of implementing state policy.

To date, the Republic of Uzbekistan has acceded to 70 basic documents of human rights, has become a party  to 10 basic international treaties adopted by the UN in the field of human rights[2].

It is known that, Presidential Decree 7.02.2017 No. UP-4947 approved the Strategy of Actions on the five priority areas of development of the Republic of Uzbekistan for 2017-2021 which has begun a new stage in further improvement of the system of ensuring human rights, freedoms and legitimate interests. The Strategy of Actions has been a "Roadmap" of Uzbekistan for the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals to be implemented in five stages.

On December 10, the 70^th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights will be widely celebrated around the world. It rightly became the fundamental law of human rights and freedoms in the world and the first international legal document that our State joined after its independence.

In that sense, it is also important to highlight that the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan of May 5, 2018 “On the Program of events dedicated to the 70^th Anniversary of adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights” was approved.

The program, dedicated to the 70th Anniversary of the Declaration, is aimed at further strengthening country's role as a full-fledged subject of international relations within the framework of the priorities set out in the Action Plan.

Among the events on the eve of the 70th anniversary of the Declaration on May 10 - 12, 2017, the visit of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Raad al-Hussein can also be recognized as a vivid example.

Today, the Declaration is as culminated as it was before. I am convinced that this document will become an integral part of our lives.

 

[1] The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, “http://www.standup4humanrights.org/en/about.html”.

[2] Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan of May 5, 2018 approved On the Program of events dedicated to the 70^th Anniversary of adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights // UzA, May 5 2018.

* S. Ishmuratova - A Leading Specialist of Information and Legal Department at the National Human Rights Centre of the Republic of Uzbekistan.