The Charter of the United Nations includes among its basic principles the achievement of international
cooperation in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all
without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion (Art. 1, para. 3).
In 1948, three years after the adoption of the Charter, the General Assembly adopted the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights,(1) which has served as guiding principles on human rights and fundamental
freedoms in the constitutions and laws of many of the Member States of the United Nations. The Universal
Declaration prohibits all forms of discrimination based on sex and ensures the right to life, liberty and
security of person; it recognizes equality before the law and equal protection against any discrimination in
violation of the Declaration.
