Human Rights & Freedoms

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and key civil liberties concepts

25 cards · civics

Cards (25)

Front	Back
UDHR Articles 1–2	All are equal in dignity and rights, without discrimination Prohibits distinctions by race, sex, religion, etc. Many minorities still face systemic bias and exclusion.
UDHR Article 3	Everyone has the right to life, liberty, and security of person Extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances persist in some states.
UDHR Article 4	No one shall be held in slavery or servitude Modern slavery, including forced labor and trafficking, affects millions worldwide.
UDHR Article 5	No torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment Torture is still documented in police custody and conflict zones despite absolute prohibition.
UDHR Articles 6–7	Everyone is recognized as a person and equal before the law Stateless people often struggle to prove legal identity and access equal protection.
UDHR Article 8	Right to an effective remedy before competent tribunals Impunity and weak judiciaries can block victims from obtaining redress.
UDHR Article 12	No arbitrary interference with privacy, family, home, or correspondence Mass surveillance, spyware, and data abuses threaten privacy worldwide.
UDHR Article 13	Freedom of movement within a state and to leave and return Exit bans and internal movement controls restrict this right in some countries.
UDHR Article 14	Right to seek and enjoy asylum from persecution Pushbacks and refoulement breach this norm at various borders.
UDHR Article 15	Everyone has the right to a nationality and to change it Some governments strip citizenship or block naturalization for targeted groups.
UDHR Article 17	Everyone has the right to own property; no arbitrary deprivation Unlawful confiscations and discriminatory land policies still occur.
UDHR Article 18	Freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, including to change Apostasy and blasphemy are criminalized in a number of countries.
UDHR Article 19	Freedom of opinion and expression; seek, receive, and impart info Censorship, criminal defamation, and internet shutdowns restrict this right.
UDHR Article 20	Freedom of peaceful assembly and association; no compelled association Protest bans and NGO crackdowns are common in authoritarian contexts.
UDHR Article 21	Right to take part in government via free, periodic, genuine elections Managed elections and disenfranchisement undermine political participation.
UDHR Articles 22 & 25	Right to social security and an adequate standard of living Conflict, austerity, and discrimination can erode access to basic needs.
UDHR Articles 23–24	Right to just conditions of work, equal pay, unions, and rest Union-busting, wage theft, and unsafe workplaces remain widespread.
UDHR Article 26	Right to education; elementary education shall be free Girls and minorities face barriers to schooling in several countries.
UDHR Article 27	Right to participate in cultural life and share scientific progress Censorship and restrictive IP policies can limit cultural and scientific access.
UDHR Articles 28–30	Rights need enabling order; limits must be lawful; no abuse to destroy Restrictions must be necessary and proportionate; regimes often misuse them.
ICCPR	Binding UN treaty protecting civil and political rights Monitored by the Human Rights Committee; most states have ratified it.
Geneva Conventions	Core treaties protecting wounded, shipwrecked, POWs, and civilians Grave breaches include targeting civilians and ill-treatment of detainees.
Habeas corpus	Right to challenge unlawful detention before a court Often curtailed under emergency laws; arbitrary detentions remain widespread.
Due process	Fair legal procedures before deprivation of life, liberty, or property Includes notice, impartial tribunal, and appeal; frequently violated by authoritarian regimes.
Freedom of the press	Media may publish without prior restraint or censorship Press freedom is sharply restricted in countries like China, Russia, and Iran.