Paltalk News - 60th Anniversary of Universal Declaration of

On December 10, 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, drafted by Eleanor Roosevelt, was adopted by the United Nations after World War II. This month, the world celebrates the 60th anniversary of the declaration, looking back on 60 years of human rights history while looking forward to ensuring all people have a right to dignity, fairness and opportunity in the U.S. and around the world.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights upholds that all people have basic rights that should be afforded them, including health care, housing, freedom from torture and slavery and a right to privacy, among others.

Even people in the U.S. today are not able to feed themselves, stay in their homes or provide for their families needs, and the problem is getting worse because of the recession. Forty-six million Americans are without health insurance and millions are losing their homes. The problem is magnified in many nations around the world.

In a recent press conference, President-elect Barack Obama said foreign policy issues are as much a priority as the economic crisis.

There's a perception held by many around the world that the United States has backtracked on human rights over the past eight years of the George W. Bush administration. But is this image really well deserved?

Jamil Dakwar director of the ACLU's Human Rights Program says the United States must, under Barack Obama, change the perception by adhering to the tenants of human rights treaties the U.S. has ratified. The first step, he says, would be for Obama to make good on his promise to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility.

Speaking on News Talk Online on Paltalk.com, Dakwar said the U.S. can better influence other nations around the world to improve their human rights record if it leads by example.

Dakwar also called on the United States to become a cooperative leader of the United Nations, a role he believes was abandoned by the current Bush administration.

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