Nov 17, 2023
On Dec. 10, the United Nations will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a document drafted in the aftermath of World War II under the leadership of American first lady Eleanor Roosevelt. Much has changed since then, including the world body's understanding of children and of parental rights. The original draft was the work of a diverse team of diplomats-contributors were communist, Confucian, Muslim, Jewish, and Christian. The war had devastated families around the world. To rebuild healthy societies, world leaders recognized the need for strong, intact families. The U.N. General Assembly enshrined protections for children, parents, and families into three main texts collectively known as the International Bill of Human Rights. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights recognized the right to "found a family" and describes the family as "the natural and fundamental group unit of society, entitled to protection by society and t