Human Rights Commission

ON 10 DECEMBER 1948, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the full text of which appears in the following pages. Following this historic act the Assembly called upon all Member Countries to publicise the text of the Declaration and “to cause it to be disseminated, displayed, read and expounded principally in schools and other educational institutions, without distinction based on the political status of countries or territories”.

Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,

Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people,

Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law,

Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations,

Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,

Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in co-operation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms,

Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge,

Now, therefore,

The General Assembly,

Proclaims this UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.

WHAKAPUAKITANGA WHANUI O NGA MANA O TE TANGATA – 1948No te mea na te whakanoa a na te whakahawea ki nga mana o te tangata i tupu ai nga mahi whakarihariha i pouri ai te ngakau tangata, a ko te kohaetanga o tetahi ao hou e mahorahora ai te tangata ki te korero ki te whakapono, ki te noho noa i runga i te rangimarie a i te ora, kua panuitia hei taumata mo te koingotanga o te ngakau o te mano tini o te tangata. No te mea ki te kore te tangata ae akina kia tae ki te tino hemanawatanga kia hapai hoki i te pakanga hei turaki i te mana tukino hei pehi hoki i te iwi, he mea tika rawa kia tiakina nga mana o te tangata i raro i tenga ritenga o te ture.

No te mea he mea tika rawa kia hapainga nga ritenga e tupu ai nga whakaaro whakawhanaunga i waenganui i nga iwi o te ao.

No te mea ko nga iwi o te Kotahitanga kua whakaatu ki roto i te Kawenata i te tino whakapumautanga o to ratou whakapono mo te kaupapa o nga mana motuhake o te tangata, mo te ihi me te wana o te tinana tangata, a mo nga tika tauriterite o te tane me te wahine, a kua whakarite tikanga hoki kia hapainga nga ritenga toko i te ora me te whakapiki i nga ahuatanga o te oranga i tenei ao i roto i te rangatiratanga whanui.

No te mea ko nga iwi o roto i tenei Kotahitanga kua oati i runga i te whakaaro kotahi kotaki ki te hapai i te ritenga whanui o te whakanui me te pupuri i nga tika o te tangata me nga kaupapa tuturu o nga rangatiratanga o te ora i tenei ao.

No te mea e tutaki ai tenei oati he mea nui rawa kia matou te mano tini o te tangata ki enei tikanga rangatira.

No reira inaianei: ko te Huihuinga Topu o Te Kotahitanga o Nga Iwi o Te Ao.

Ka Paanui

I Tenei Whakapuakitanga Whanui O Nga Mana O Te Tangata.

Ka meinga nei hei tauira whanui mo nga tikanga hei whainga kia tutaki i te katoa o nga iwi i runga i te whai a tena tangata a tena tangata me nga ropu katoa o roto i nga whakahaere me te pupuri tonu i nga wa katoa i roto i te hinengaro i tenei Whakapuakitanga, me whakapau i te kaha i runga i te ritenga tohutohu me te ako ki te hapai i nga tikanga rangatira: a ma runga hoki i nga whakaritenga e ahu whakamua ana a ia iwi puta noa te ao, kia mau ai te tuturutanga ki te katoa, o te pono o te pupuri me te whakarite i enei ritenga i waenganui o nga iwi o roto i te kotahitanga, hui tahi atu ki nga iwi o nga whenua kei raro i o ratou mana whakahaere.