§ Sir R. Russellasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of members of the United Nations which have accepted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerThe Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which is a statement of general principles, was proclaimed by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 10th December, 1948, as
a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations.It was adopted by the General Assembly without any dissenting vote. But, as it took the form of a resolution and was not drafted in the form of a treaty, it did not require signature or ratification by any State. The purposes of the 221W United Nations, as stated in Article 1 of the United Nations Charter, include the promotion and encouragement ofrespect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion.Under Article 56 of the Charter, all member States pledge themselves to take joint and separate action in co-operation with the Organisation to promote, inter alia, universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms.