H. Con. Res. 185 Agreed to October 21, 1998

One Hundred Fifth Congress

of the

United States of America

AT THE SECOND SESSION

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday,

the twenty-seventh day of January, one thousand nine hundred and ninety-eight

Concurrent Resolution

Whereas on December 10, 1948, the General Assembly of the United

Nations proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,

after it was adopted by the General Assembly without a dissenting

vote;

Whereas the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was modeled

on the Bill of Rights of the United States Constitution and it

was developed with strong United States leadership, and in

particular the personal involvement of Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt,

who served as Chair of the United Nations Human Rights

Commission;

Whereas the Universal Declaration of Human Rights sets forth

fundamental human rights including the right to life, liberty,

and security of person; freedom of religion; freedom of opinion

and expression; freedom of assembly; self-government through

free elections; freedom from slavery and torture; the right to

a fair trial and to equality before the law; presumption of

innocence until proved guilty; the right not to be subjected to

retroactive laws; freedom of movement within one’s state and

freedom to leave or return to it; the right of asylum; the right

to a nationality; the right to found a family; the right against

arbitrary interference with privacy, family, home, or correspondence; the right to own property; to social security and to work;

the right to form and join trade unions; the right to an adequate

standard of living, to education, and to rest and leisure; and

the right to participation in the cultural life of the community;

Whereas the Universal Declaration of Human Rights has become

the most widely accepted statement identifying human rights

and is referred to in resolutions and covenants adopted by numerous international organizations, in multilateral and bilateral treaties, in national constitutions, and in local laws and decrees;

and

Whereas the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, though it

is not a treaty or a binding international agreement, it is ‘‘a

common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations’’:

Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That the Congress—

(1) reaffirms the commitment of the United States to the

fundamental human rights enunciated half a century ago in

the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which are a reflection of the fundamental civil and human rights that are
H. Con. Res. 185—2

enshrined in the Declaration of Independence and in the United

States Constitution, and in particular in the Bill of Rights;

(2) expresses the determination to work for the implementation of and observance of international human rights and international human rights agreements; and

(3) urges the government leaders of all nations, representatives of private international human rights organizations, business and labor leaders, local government officials, and all

Americans to use the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

as an instrument to promote tolerance, understanding, and

greater respect for human rights.

Attest:

Clerk of the House of Representatives.

Attest:

Secretary of the Senate.