Human Rights

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)

On 10 December 1948, the then newly established United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Declaration serves as a global guide to freedom and equality, protecting the rights of every individual worldwide. Human rights are therefore universal – they apply to all people everywhere, regardless of country, culture, gender, skin colour, religion, or other characteristics.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights consists of 30 articles which together set out the fundamental and universal rights and freedoms. The articles address both what everyone is entitled to—such as freedom and education—and what everyone has the right to be free from, such as slavery and torture. The Declaration thus represent a common expression of will and a moral commitment by the international community, which all states are expected to uphold, but which is not legally binding. However, the Declaration has served as the foundation for many legally binding treaties, conventions and international agreements. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights also forms the basis of international efforts to monitor human rights in states around the world.

Human rights are interdependent and indivisible. This means that the different rights form parts of the same whole, in such a way that no individual right can be considered more important than another.

Human rights form part of international law and fundamentally regulate the relationship between the state and the individual. They constitute a limitation on the power of the state over the individual, while at the same time establishing certain obligations for the state. All people within a country are rights-holders and are entitled to have their human rights fulfilled. The state (including regions and municipalities) and all public officials are duty-bearers and are responsible for respecting, protecting and promoting human rights. The state is obliged to protect individuals from violations of their rights by other private actors and must ensure that every person is able to realize and claim their rights.

The Government of Sweden bears the ultimate responsibility for ensuring that human rights are fulfilled in Sweden. The Government also has a responsibility to make information about human rights accessible to the general public.

The Swedish National Human Rights Institution is an independent public authority responsible for monitoring, examining and reporting on how human rights are respected and realised in Sweden.

Read the complete Universal Declaration of Human Rights here:
https://fn.se/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Allmanforklaringomdemanskligarattigheterna.pdf

Human Rights Conventions 

CAT – Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

ICCPR – International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

CEDAW – Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women

CERD – International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination

ICESCR – International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

CRC – Convention on the Rights of the Child

CRPD – Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (Sweden is not a party to the convention).

Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (Sweden is not a party to the convention).

Read more at the UN Human Rights Office website: https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-listings and at the Swedish UN Association: https://fn.se/vi-gor/vi-utbildar-och-informerar/fn-info/vad-gor-fn/fns-arbete-med-manskliga-rattigheter/sa-skyddar-fn-de-manskliga-rattigheterna/mr-konventionerna/