United Nations
Universal Declaration of
Human Rights
Simplified Version
This simplified version of the 30 Articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights has been created especially for young people.
1
We Are All Born Free & Equal
We are all born free. We all have our own thoughts and ideas. We should all be treated in the same way.
2
Don’t Discriminate
These rights belong to everybody, whatever our differences.
3
The Right to Life
We all have the right to life, and to live in freedom and safety.
4
No Slavery
Nobody has any right to make us a slave. We cannot make anyone our slave.
5
No Torture
Nobody has any right to hurt us or to torture us.
6
You Have Rights No Matter Where You Go
I am a person just like you!
7
We’re All Equal Before the Law
The law is the same for everyone. It must treat us all fairly.
8
Your Human Rights Are Protected by Law
We can all ask for the law to help us when we are not treated fairly.
9
No Unfair Detainment
Nobody has the right to put us in prison without good reason and keep us there, or to send us away from our country.
10
The Right to Trial
If we are put on trial this should be in public. The people who try us should not let anyone tell them what to do.
11
We’re Always Innocent Till Proven Guilty
Nobody should be blamed for doing something until it is proven. When people say we did a bad thing we have the right to show it is not true.
12
The Right to Privacy
Nobody should try to harm our good name. Nobody has the right to come into our home, open our letters, or bother us or our family without a good reason.
13
Freedom to Move
We all have the right to go where we want in our own country and to travel as we wish.
14
The Right to Seek a Safe Place to Live
If we are frightened of being badly treated in our own country, we all have the right to run away to another country to be safe.
15
Right to a Nationality
We all have the right to belong to a country.
16
Marriage and Family
Every grown-up has the right to marry and have a family if they want to. Men and women have the same rights when they are married, and when they are separated.
17
The Right to Your Own Things
Everyone has the right to own things or share them. Nobody should take our things from us without a good reason.
18
Freedom of Thought
We all have the right to believe in what we want to believe, to have a religion, or to change it if we want.
19
Freedom of Expression
We all have the right to make up our own minds, to think what we like, to say what we think, and to share our ideas with other people.
20
The Right to Public Assembly
We all have the right to meet our friends and to work together in peace to defend our rights. Nobody can make us join a group if we don’t want to.
21
The Right to Democracy
We all have the right to take part in the government of our country. Every grown-up should be allowed to choose their own leaders.
22
Social Security
We all have the right to affordable housing, medicine, education, and childcare, enough money to live on and medical help if we are ill or old.
23
Workers’ Rights
Every grown-up has the right to do a job, to a fair wage for their work, and to join a trade union.
24
The Right to Play
We all have the right to rest from work and to relax.
25
Food and Shelter for All
We all have the right to a good life. Mothers and children, people who are old, unemployed or disabled, and all people have the right to be cared for.
26
The Right to Education
Education is a right. Primary school should be free. We should learn about the United Nations and how to get on with others. Our parents can choose what we learn.
27
Copyright
Copyright is a special law that protects one’s own artistic creations and writings; others cannot make copies without permission. We all have the right to our own way of life and to enjoy the good things that art, science and learning bring.
28
A Fair and Free World
There must be proper order so we can all enjoy rights and freedoms in our own country and all over the world.
29
Responsibility
We have a duty to other people, and we should protect their rights and freedoms.
30
No One Can Take Away Your Human Rights
Human rights are inherent and no one can take them away.