Who worked with the United Nations and helped write the United Declaration of Human Rights?

Answer 1

Many of the assumptions about who wrote the Universal Declaration of Human Rights are wrong.

The less known story of the men and women who wrote this foundational, emancipatory and anti-colonial document must be told in today's world.

Susan Waltz, is one of the scholars who has done much to recover stories such as the role of Begum Ikramullah and others in the forgotten history of the drafting of the UDHR. Her work shows how mistaken many assumptions are about this foundational document. Eleanor Roosevelt is often seen as the single author of the Declaration, since she chaired the drafting Committee. Civil and political rights are seen as classical 'Western' concerns, whilst social and economic rights are thought to have been advocated for by the Soviet bloc.

Two of the most important drafters were Hansa Mehta of India, and Charles Malik of Lebanon, who was Committee Rapporteur. Hansa Mehta, an extraordinary activist and brave member of the Constituent Assembly in India, was responsible for the wording of the Article I 'All human beings are equal in dignity and rights,' arguing that if the word men was used, it would not be regarded as inclusive but rather taken to exclude women. She was the key figure who ensured gender equality in the document.

Other names are who have contribution are:Alsadais McIntyre, Costas DouJinas, Begum Shaista Ikramullah- Pakistan, Eleanor Roosevelt-First lady USA, Susan Waltz, Hansa Mehta -India, and Charles Malik-Lebanon, Wahid Rafaat-Egypt, Carlos Romulo of the Philippines and many others.