What is the first human rights declaration adopted by the United Nations?

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a landmark document.

When was the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted?

10 December 1948.

Where was the Universal Declaration adopted?

At the Palais de Chaillot, in Paris, France.

Who were the key contributors to the drafting of the

Universal Declaration of Human Rights?
Eleanor Roosevelt (United States of America), Ren?Cassin (France), Charles Malik
(Lebanon), Peng Chun Chang (China), Hernan Santa Cruz (Chile), Alexandre
Bogomolov/Alexei Pavlov, (Soviet Union), Lord Dukeston/Geoffrey Wilson (United
Kingdom) William Hodgson (Australia), and John Humphrey (Canada).

How many articles does the Universal Declaration of Human Rights contain?
30.

When is Human Rights Day observed?

10 December each year.

What is the International Bill of Human Rights?

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, together with the International Covenant
on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights.

How many countries are members of the Commission on Human Rights?

53 countries, representing all regions of the world.

Which United Nations council selects the members of the Commission on Human
Rights and on what basis?
The Economic and Social Council, according to regional geographical distribution.
Where does the United Nations Commission on Human Rights meet and for how
long?In Geneva for six weeks each year.

How many women have chaired the annual sessions of the United Nations
Commission on Human Rights since its first meeting in 1947? Who are they?
Three. Eleanor Roosevelt (USA), Princess Ashraf Pahlavi (Iran) and Purificaci髇
Quisumbing (Philippines).

Which office in the United Nations is responsible for dealing with human rights
questions on a daily basis?
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva, formerly known as
the Centre for Human Rights.

When was the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights established? How
many High Commissioners have there been so far?
1993. Two.

Which human rights bodies can hear individual complaints of human rights
violations?
The Human Rights Committee that monitors the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, and the
Committee on Torture.

How many human rights treaty bodies are there?

Six treaty bodies. Each treaty body monitors how countries implement a specific
human rights treaty.

What are the six international human rights treaties monitored by the treaty bodies?
The Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; the Covenant on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights; the Convention on the Rights of the Child; the Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women; the Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination; and the Convention against Torture
and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
 Which mechanisms were devised by the United Nations to monitor human rights
violations?
Conventional mechanisms (treaty bodies to monitor compliance of States parties to
Conventions) and extra-conventional mechanisms (Special Rapporteurs, working
groups and Special Representatives of the Secretary-General).

What are special rapporteurs and what do they do?

Special rapporteurs are experts appointed by the Commission on Human Rights.
They examine, monitor and publicly report on human rights situations and
compliance of States with the various international human rights instruments.

To whom does the Universal Declaration of Human Rights apply?

To each individual, regardless of gender, race, religion or cultural background.

Why is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights important to you?

Because it protects and promotes your individual rights.

What is the function of "standard-setting in human rights diplomacy?

You did not answer the question.

Correct answer:
c) Standard-setting means putting forward non-binding legal standards
Feedback:
Standard-setting means adopting non-binding instruments with a view to providing
appropriate space to States to test particular measures with a view to formal adoption
sometime in the future.
Page reference: 166
Question 2

What is the legal nature of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)?

You did not answer the question.

Correct answer:
b) The UDHR is a UN General Assembly resolution
 Feedback:
The UDHR is a UN General Assembly Resolution. Although it is not binding as such, over
time it has become customary international law.
Page reference: 166
Question 3

What is the meaning of cultural relativism?

You did not answer the question.

Correct answer:
d) Cultural relativism posits that local culture should validate the existence and practice of all
human rights
Feedback:
Cultural relativism posits that culture should validate the existence and practice of all human
rights. This is totally opposed to the universalist approach.
Page reference: 167
Question 4

What is the meaning of collective rights?

You did not answer the question.

Correct answer:
b) Collective rights are those that belong to particular groups as opposed to the individual
members of the group
Feedback:
These are rights that belong to a group as such, as opposed to each individual member of the
group. Self-determination is a collective right.
Page reference: 168
Question 5

What is the meaning of justiciability?

You did not answer the question.

Correct answer:
a) Justiciability refers to the possibility of enforcement of a particular right by the relevant
rights holders
Feedback:
 Justiciability refers to the possibility of enforcement and (locus standi) of a particular right
by rights holders.
Page reference: 168
Question 6

What is a derogation?

You did not answer the question.

Correct answer:
c) A State may suspend particular rights by means of a derogation in circumstances that
threaten its existence
Feedback:
Derogations concern the suspension of particular rights (but not fundamental ones such as
the right to life) for a specific period of time during a public emergency that threatens the life
of a nation.
Page reference: 168-69
Question 7

Would a reservation to the definition of torture in the ICCPR be acceptable in contemporary

practice?

You did not answer the question.

Correct answer:
b) This is an unacceptable reservation because it contravenes the object and purpose of the
ICCPR
Feedback:
Reservations to human rights treaties are problematic anyway. This particular reservation
would be unacceptable because it goes against the very purpose and object of the ICCPR as
well as that of the prohibition of torture.
Page reference: 169-70
Question 8

Which of the following is a treaty-based human rights mechanism?

You did not answer the question.

Correct answer:
a) The UN Human Rights Committee
Feedback:
 Treaty-based mechanisms are those established under a multilateral human rights treaty, such
as the ICCPR.
Page reference: 171
Question 9

Under what circumstances do human rights violations taking place outside the territory of
ECHR member States fall within the remit of the ECtHR?

You did not answer the question.

Correct answer:
b) The ECHR applies extraterritorially in circumstances where a member State exercises
effective control
Feedback:
This concerns the so-called juridical space of the ECHR. The Convention applies outside
Europe in territories where a member State exercises effective control.
Page reference: 172
Question 10

What is the rationale for the exhaustion of local remedies in international human rights?

You did not answer the question.

Correct answer:
c) The local remedies rule aims on the one hand to restrict the volume of petitions to
international tribunals while at the same time building up the capacity of local courts’’

What is the function of "standard-setting in human rights diplomacy?

a) Standard-setting means putting forward binding legal standards

b) Standard-setting means merely proposing binding legal standards
c) Standard-setting means putting forward non-binding legal standards
d) Standard-setting means setting certain standards of conduct in human rights
treaties
Question 2

What is the legal nature of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)?
 a) The UDHR is a multilateral treaty
b) The UDHR is a UN General Assembly resolution
c) The UDHR is a UN Security Council resolution
d) The UDHR is a declaration adopted by several States at an international
conference
Question 3

What is the meaning of cultural relativism?

a) Culture relativism posits that human rights apply equally to all without
restrictions
b) Culture relativism posits that human rights have a cultural origin
c) Cultural relativism posits that the application of human rights is relative to the
laws in each nation
d) Cultural relativism posits that local culture should validate the existence and
practice of all human rights
Question 4

What is the meaning of collective rights?

a) Collective rights belong to distinct groups of people

b) Collective rights are those that belong to particular groups as opposed to the
individual members of the group
c) Minority rights are collective rights
d) Collective rights entail a right of the group as such as well as individual rights
of the group's members
Question 5

What is the meaning of justiciability?

a) Justiciability refers to the possibility of enforcement of a particular right by the

relevant rights holders
b) Justiciability refers to the just nature or cause of a particular right
c) Justiciability refers to the courts' assessment of whether the non-enforcement of
a particular rights conforms to principles of justice
d) Justiciability refers to the obligation of a State to enforce a particular Right
Question 6

What is a derogation?

a) Derogations are exemptions from particular human rights obligations contained

in a treaty
b) A derogation refers to the ability of rights holders to bring a claim against the
State for breach of an obligation
c) A State may suspend particular rights by means of a derogation in
circumstances that threaten its existence
d) Derogations are enforcement clauses in human rights treaties
Question 7

Would a reservation to the definition of torture in the ICCPR be acceptable in contemporary

practice?

a) This is an acceptable reservation if the reserving country's legislation employs a

different definition
b) This is an unacceptable reservation because it contravenes the object and
purpose of the ICCPR
c) This is an unacceptable reservation because the definition of torture in the
ICCPR is consistent with customary international law
d) This is an acceptable reservation because under general international law States
have the right to enter reservations to treaties
Question 8

Which of the following is a treaty-based human rights mechanism?

a) The UN Human Rights Committee

b) The UN Human Rights Council
c) The UN Universal Periodic Review
d) The UN special mandates
Question 9

Under what circumstances do human rights violations taking place outside the territory of
ECHR member States fall within the remit of the ECtHR?
 a) The ECHR applies outside Europe where human rights are violated by ECHR
member States abroad
b) The ECHR applies extraterritorially in circumstances where a member State
exercises effective control
c) The ECHR applies extraterritorially where a member State has contributed
forces to a UN peacekeeping mission
d) The ECHR applies extraterritorially where human rights violations are taking
place in former colonies of member States
Question 10

What is the rationale for the exhaustion of local remedies in international human rights?

a) The local remedies rule aims to free up international tribunals to deal with the
most serious cases
b) The local remedies rule aims to dissuade applicants abusing the system from
filing unnecessary petitions
c) The local remedies rule aims on the one hand to restrict the volume of petitions
to international tribunals while at the same time building up the capacity of local
courts
d) The local remedies rule helps demonstrate that national courts are always better
placed than international ones to deal with cases

1. In what year was the UDHR adopted?

A. 1948 B. 1993 C. 1874 D. 1893
2. Who drafts and monitors international human rights standards?
A. The International Red Cross B. The governments of individual countries C. The United Nations D.
International human rights organizations
3. How many articles are there in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?
A. 105 B. 30 C. 14 D. 3
4. Which of the following treaties has the U.S. not signed?
A. Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination B. Convention against Torture C.
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights D. Convention on the Rights of the Child
5. Who has human rights? A. A criminal B. An illegal immigrant C.
A citizen D. All of the above E. None of the above
6. What does every human right have?
A. An associated law B. Universal acceptance C. A corresponding responsibility
7. How many people in the U.S. live below the poverty line?
A. 250,000 B. 1.5 million C. 14.8 million D. 42.9 million
8. True or False: The right to housing is protected by the U.S. Constitution.
A. True B. False
9. What percentage of people in the U.S. without medical insurance are employed or live in working
families?
A. 77% B. 66% C. 55% D. 40%
10. How many women are trafficked into the U.S. each year?
A. 1,000 B. 5,000 C. 10,000 D. 50,000
11. True or False: The United States Constitution guarantees rights only for citizens of the United States
but not for migrants or undocumented workers.
A. True B. False
12. How much further behind in reading are lowincome children than high-income children in the U.S.
by the time they reach fourth grade?
A. 1 grade level B. 2 grade levels C. 3 grade levels D. 6 grade levels
ANS
1. A - 1948. 2. C - The 3. B - 30 Articles.4. D - Convention on the Rights of the Child.
5. D - All of the above. 6. C - A corresponding responsibility.
7. D - 42.9 million. 8. B - False. 9. A - 77%. 10. D - 50,000. 11. B - False. 12. C - 3 grade levels.

1) Customary International law is:

a) not really law.
b) Can be used to replace laws.
b) The general practices of states that is usually accepted as law.
c) Superior normative actions compared to hard law treaties.
2) Civil and Political rights are contained in a separate treaty from economic, social and cultural rights because:
a) Civil and political rights are more important and considered the superior rights.
b) Civil and political rights cannot be considered as substantive human rights because they do not affect the
individual wellbeing.
c) Civil and political rights apply to some countries while economic, social and cultural rights to others.
d) Civil and political rights are of immediate application by the state, usually called the negative obligations.
Economic, cultural and Social Rights are progressively implemented by the states. Also, the polarization of the
world during the cold war, made it obvious that western nations would focus on Political and Civil rights, while
eastern nations would focus on ECOSOC rights.
3) Which of the following right is NOT protected by the International covenant on civil and political rights?
a) The right to respect for traditional culture.
b) The right to fair trial.
c) The right to vote
d) The right to be free from torture or cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment.

4) Human Rights obligations that require action on part of the government are known as:
a) Not a human rights obligation, just a democratic governance principle.
b) Positive obligations, because it is the government’s responsibility
c) Negative obligations because the effects are negative on right`s violation.
d) Marginal obligations.
5) On which of the following rights may states place limitations for the sake of ensuring the general welfare?
a) The right to life, as an human rights perpetrator should be punished with death penalty to avoid violating more
human rights.
b) The right to freedom from torture
c) The rights of recognition as a person before the law.
d) The right to peaceful assembly
8) The prohibition of taking retrogressive measures means:
a) States may not allow existing ECOSOC rights to deteriorate;
b) States should not imprison people for newly invented crimes;
c) States must assure that they do not discriminate when protecting ECOSOC rights.
d) States must immediately implement the right to free and compulsory primary education.
9) Human Rights are cross-cutting issues for peace and security, economic and social affairs, development
cooperation and humanitarian affairs. What does this mean?
a) Human rights sharpen issues with unpredictable effects;
b) Human rights are relevant to all of those fields;
c) Human Rights take precedence over the other four fields because they are one of the purposes of the UN charter;
d) A program of exchange of personnel among related offices would benefit the reform process.