ADVICE

Here are some Human Rights Questions and Answers:

THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS (1948)

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) contains thirty (30) Articles. In clear and simple terms, the 30 Articles contain rights which belong equally to every person. These rights belong to you. They belong to me. They belong to the people of our world.

In this issue of our Bulletin, we have decided to publish some of these Articles in the original text in an effort to make people aware and familiarize themselves with these rights, and to have full knowledge and understanding of these rights and freedoms. We may not be able to cover all the Articles in this issue of our Bulletin. However, we will certainly continue it in our next issue. (The original Text is printed in bold and the plan language in plain text).

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.

(Because all people are born free, all should be treated in the same way. They have reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a friendly manner).

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.

(Despite a different sex, a different skin colour, speaking a different language, thinking different things, believing in another religion, owning more or less, being born in another social group, coming from another country, everyone can claim the following rights. it also makes no difference whether the country you live in is independent or not).

ARTICLE 3: Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

(Everyone has the right to live, and to live in freedom and safety).

ARTICLE 4: No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.

(Nobody has the right to treat you as his or her slave and you should naot make onyone your slave).

ARTICLE 5: No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

(No body has the right to torture you or to apply physical or psychological pain to you).

ARTICLE 6: Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.

(You should be legally protected in the same way everywhere, and like everyone else, before a Court of 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.

(The law is the same for everyone, it should be applied in the same way to all).

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.

(You should be able to ask for legal redress when the rights your country grants you are not respected).

ARTICLE 9: No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.

(No body has the right to put you in prison, to keep you there, or send you away from your country unjustly, or without a good and lawful reason).

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.

(If you must go on trial this should be done in public. The people who try you should not let themselves be influenced by others).

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 action or omission 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.

(You should be considered innocent until it is proved that your are guilty. If you are accused of a crime, you should always have the right to defend yourself. There should be no retroactive criminal or other punishment that was not law at the time of the offence).