IBAHRI Showcase: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights at 70 - the responsibility of the legal profession

The universality of human rights is being contested in many places in the world today. Cultural relativism, authoritarian attitudes and a desire to return to ‘traditional values’ bolster the belief that universality is unattainable and fanciful. For 70 years, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights has been the bedrock upon which the human rights treaties of the 20th century have been constructed. But is it still relevant or useful? This session will examine the development, current status and relevance of the Universal Declaration in the 21st century. In particular, it will consider the responsibility of the legal profession in this regard.