Human Rights: Universal Declaration Articles 19-30

Article 19

Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression. This entails the right not to be disturbed because of their views and to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media, regardless of frontiers.

Article 20

1. Everyone is entitled to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.

2. No one can be compelled to belong to an association.

Article 21

1. Everyone is entitled to take part in the governance of their country, either directly or through freely chosen representatives.

2. Everyone has the right to access public service in their country equally.

3. The will of the people is the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in genuine elections, which must be held periodically, by universal and equal suffrage and secret ballot, or by any means that ensures equivalent free voting.

Article 22

Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and has the authority to obtain the satisfaction of economic, social, and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality, by national effort and international cooperation, considering the organization and resources of each country.

Article 23

1. Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of their work, and to protection against unemployment.

2. Everyone is entitled, without any discrimination, to equal pay for equal work.

3. Everyone who works has the right to equitable remuneration, ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.

4. Everyone has the right, joining with others, to form and join trade unions for the protection of his interests.

Article 24

Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, particularly to a reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.

Article 25

1. Everyone is entitled to a standard of living adequate for the health, welfare, and those of his family, including food, clothing, housing, medical care, and necessary social services. Everyone has the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age, or other cases of loss of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.

2. Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, born within marriage or outside it, enjoy the same social protection.

Article 26

1. Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education is compulsory. Technical and professional education must be widespread, and access to higher education must be open with full equality for all, based on merit.

2. Education shall promote the full development of human personality and strengthen respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance, and friendship among all nations and all racial or religious groups, and disseminate the activities of the United Nations for peacekeeping.

3. Fathers and mothers have a prior right to choose the kind of education for their children.

Article 27

1. Everyone has the right to participate freely in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts, and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.

2. Everyone is entitled to the protection of moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary, or artistic production of which he is the author.

Article 28

Everyone has the right to a social and international order that allows for the full realization of the rights and freedoms set forth in this statement.

Article 29

1. Everyone is entitled to duties to the community in which only the free and full development of personality is possible.

2. In exercising and enjoying rights and freedoms, everyone is subject only to the limitations provided by law, in order to ensure recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and to meet the just requirements of morality, public order, and general welfare in a democratic society.

3. These duties and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Article 30

Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as meaning that a state, group, or person has any right to engage in any activity or perform any act aimed at destroying the rights and freedoms set forth herein.