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 correspond-
ence; 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 numer-
ous international organizations, in multilateral and bilateral trea-
ties, 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 concur-
ring), 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 reflec-
tion 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 implementa-
tion of and observance of international human rights and inter-
national human rights agreements; and
(3) urges the government leaders of all nations, representa-
tives of private international human rights organizations, busi-
ness 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.