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UN Declaration of Human Rights – the threshold of a great event

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the UN on December 10, 1948, has been described as a "miraculous text".

It has also inspired a series of subsequent international treaties, such as on elimination of all forms of racial discrimination (1965); civil and political rights (1966); economic, social and cultural rights (1966); elimination of all forms of discrimination against women (1979); and against torture (1984).

We take a look at some key figures and key moments in its adoption, and how pressure from civil society has also played a role in pushing for human rights improvements.


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SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR