Human Rights — Article Seventeen

Public Domain

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a milestone document in the history of human rights. Drafted by representatives with different legal and cultural backgrounds from all regions of the world, the Declaration was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on 10 December 1948 (General Assembly resolution 217 A) as a common standard of achievements for all peoples and all nations. It sets out, for the first time, fundamental human rights to be universally protected and it has been translated into over 500 languages.

Article 17.

(1) Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.
(2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.

I don’t think this one needs much explanation. We’re all familiar with the concept of property. No one should be property and everyone should have the right to own property, whether it’s the child’s toy or the adult’s house. Their ownership should be protected by law from unjustified seizure.

These days we might say, “No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of their property.”

rjb