The Pros And Cons Of The Universal Declaration Of Human Rights

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a document that outlines the basic rights for all humans on Earth. However, a few fundamental rights are still being denied in certain countries even though the document has been released since 1948. For instance, Article five claims that “no one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.” Yet, the American military has flirted on the line of committing “inhuman or degrading treatment” of prisoners on Guantanamo Bay detention center. The US Supreme Court claimed that the prisoners had certain rights but refused to directly state the limit of torture of the prisoners up until four of them committed suicide. Another surprising right is Article 16: “Men

and women...have equal rights during marriage and at its dissolution.” This is shocking because the Philippines have a law forbidding divorce. Therefore, people in the Philippines are not being able to exercise all of their human rights. Also, in Article 25: “Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance.” Nonetheless, American mothers are not being supported with paid maternity leave which should be required under the “special care”. Finland, Sweden, and Norway are all examples of countries who have given paid maternity leave and other attractive offers to mothers. After observing all the human rights, I believe that I am covered for all of them except in the case I become a mother.
The United States use to have an ideal form of government, in fact, many countries attempted to adapt their own versions of the Constitution.

However, as time goes on the democratic form of government is becoming less appealing. More and more countries are labeling our system of government as ineffective because of our inability to create and pass laws. The checks and balances are a key part of the Constitution because it provides security that not one single branch of the government can abuse their power. In contrast, this does make gridlock a common occurrence in America. The only other country who has had a long law creating process was Yugoslavia, and this is alarming because the country ultimately failed. Hopefully the United States can stand united enough to where we do not face a similar fate. Ginsburg’s comment on how it would be unwise to adapt the US Constitution is understandable but wrong. Certain laws like the third amendment, would not be useful for most countries because its an outdated law. Despite the ineffective laws, most of the amendments are made to protect the people, which benefits everybody. The Constitution may create inefficiency with the checks and balances, but overall it does its main job: safeguard the people and the country. Which calls for a government that is truly for the people and that will survive through the good and bad

times.