Human rights research unit (Malta)

Abstract

In the aftermath of the devastation of the last World War, a new political will surged through the world community as a first step in the collective enforcement of a lasting peace for mankind, to safeguard the individual from the scourge of oppression. A renewed attempt was made to set standards of behavior, to which all people and nations should aspire, in the Charter of the United Nations, signed by the member states in 1945. Signature was a clear manifestation of the reaffirmation of their faith in fundamental human rights and freedoms, disregard of which had resulted in barbarous acts that had outraged the conscience of mankind. A historic document adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on the 10th December, 1948, was the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which, in its Preamble, states that the "Recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all the members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world". Therefore, in laying down standards to be observed by all nations, the Universal Declaration proclaimed that all individuals were born free and equal in dignity "regardless of race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status". Such were the ideals that all leaders and people had to strive for to recreate a society based on peace and stability. This goal led to the foundation in May, 1949, of the Council of Europe as the first European political institution. Its aims were, besides that of achieving a greater unity, that all members were to safeguard and realise the ideals and principals of common heritage, that of working for the "maintanence and further realisation of human rights and fundamental freedoms''.