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 20.
(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
(2) No one may be compelled to belong to an association.
We have the right to associate with whomever we want.
We have the freedom to assemble for peaceful purposes.
We have the right to refuse to join an association.
The state can’t tell you which associations you can’t join, provided they’re peaceful, and it can’t tell you which associations you must join either. For instance, there must be no state mandated theological institutions.
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