N
InsightHorizon Digest

What is Article 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Author

Isabella Browning

Updated on April 01, 2026

In three concise paragraphs, Article 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) outlines some of the fundamental principles of democracy: the will of the people should be the basis of government authority, and everyone has the right to take part in the government “directly or through freely chosen …

What is Article 21 the Constitution?

Article 21 of Constitution of India: Protection of Life and Personal Liberty. Article 21 states that “No person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to a procedure established by law.” Thus, article 21 secures two rights: Right to life, and. 2) Right to personal liberty.

What does Article 22 of the UDHR mean?

Article 22 asserts that economic, social and cultural rights are indispensable for human dignity and development of the human personality. This phrase appears again in Article 29, underlining that the UDHR drafters wanted not just to guarantee a basic minimum, but to help us all become better people.

Which Article 21 human rights are most important?

Meaning, Concept and Interpretation of ‘Right to Life‘ under Article 21. ‘Everyone has the right to life, liberty and the security of person. ‘ The right to life is undoubtedly the most fundamental of all rights.

What is Article 20 of the Human Rights Act?

Article 20: Freedom of Assembly and Association Article 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), combined with Article 19’s freedom of expression, together ensure the right to gather publicly or privately and collectively express, promote, pursue and defend common interests.

What is the duty of government with regard to Article 21?

Article 21 of the Constitution of India states that no person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to procedures established by law. The state and its citizens have to take responsibility for the right to clean the environment because we live in this environment.

Is Article 21 an absolute right?

Is Article 21 an absolute right? No, it is not an absolute right. The State can impose restrictions on the right to life and liberty but it should be fair, reasonable and just, and as per the procedure established by law.

What are the main points of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?

  • We Are All Born Free & Equal. We are all born free. …
  • Don’t Discriminate. …
  • The Right to Life. …
  • No Slavery. …
  • No Torture. …
  • You Have Rights No Matter Where You Go. …
  • We’re All Equal Before the Law. …
  • Your Human Rights Are Protected by Law.

What is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights summary?

It declares that human rights are universal – to be enjoyed by all people, no matter who they are or where they live. The Universal Declaration includes civil and political rights, like the right to life, liberty, free speech and privacy.

Why is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights important?

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a historic document which outlined the rights and freedoms everyone is entitled to. It was the first international agreement on the basic principles of human rights. It laid the foundation for the human rights protections that we have in the UK today.

Article first time published on

What does Article 29 of the UDHR mean?

Now Article 29 says the corollary of rights is duties. We all have a duty to other people, and we should protect their rights and freedoms. … It seeks to link the exercise of rights with the interests of the world community, which the United Nations had been set up in 1945 to represent.

What does Article 30 of the UDHR mean?

Human Right # 30. No One Can Take Away Your Human Rights. Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.

What is Article 2 of the UDHR?

Article 2 states that everyone is entitled to all the freedoms listed in the UDHR, “without distinction of any kind such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.” The last words of this sentence – “other status” – have frequently …

Is Article 2 an absolute right?

Article 2 is often referred to as an absolute right. Absolute rights are rights which can never be interfered with by the state. However, there are some very limited situations where it’s not a breach of article 2 if a public authority kills someone.

What is Article 18 of the Indian Constitution?

(1) No title, not being a military or academic distinction, shall be conferred by the State. (2) No citizen of India shall accept any title from any foreign State.

What is Article 5 of the Human Rights Act?

Everyone has the right to liberty and security of person. … No one shall be deprived of his liberty save in the following cases and in accordance with a procedure prescribed by law: the lawful detention of a person after conviction by a competent court.

What is the scope of right to life and personal liberty under Article 21?

Article 21 guarantees the protection of life and personal liberty to every individual and states that, “No person shall be deprived of his life and personal liberty except according to procedure established by law.” The true test of a democracy is how its laws stand with regard to the life and liberty of its people.

What is the full form of PIL?

Public interest litigation is the use of the law to advance human rights and equality, or raise issues of broad public concern. It helps advance the cause of minority or disadvantaged groups or individuals. Public interest cases may arise from both public and private law matters.

In which case does the Supreme Court of India described Article 21 as the heart of fundamental rights?

Gopalan v/s. State of Madras (AIR 1950 SC 27). In the said case the Supreme Court held that Article 21 gets attracted only in case of deprivation in the sense of total loss’ and that the said article had no application in case of restriction upon the right to move freely.

What rights does Article 20 21 deal with?

ArticleBrief descriptionArticle 20Protection with respect to conviction for offencesArticle 21Right to life and personal libertyArticle 21ARight to elementary educationArticle 22Protection against arrest and detention in certain cases

What is the importance of Article 21 of Indian Constitution Class 11?

What is the importance of Article 21 of Indian Constitution? Answer: Article 21 provides protection of life and personal liberty, i.e. no person shall be deprived of one’s life except according to the procedure established by law of India. What do you mean by ‘Right to Freedom’?

Can Article 21 be suspended during emergency?

Article 20 and 21 could not be suspended even in case of an emergency. The Supreme Court also made it clear that all the fundamental rights remain in order for itsṣ only power to move to court for their enforcement is suspended.

What is the article of human rights?

Article 1Right to EqualityArticle 3Right to Life, Liberty, Personal SecurityArticle 4Freedom from SlaveryArticle 5Freedom from Torture and Degrading TreatmentArticle 6Right to Recognition as a Person before the Law

How many articles are there in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?

OHCHR | 30 articles on the 30 Articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Which articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights covers child rights?

Article 27 States Parties recognize the right of every child to a standard of living adequate for the child’s physical, mental, spiritual, moral and social development.

Which is the most important article in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?

Article 19 of the Declaration sets out the universal princi- ple of freedom of opinion and expression. Everyone has the right to their opinions and to express them to others.

What is the Article 28?

Article 28 (Freedom as to attendance at religious instruction or religious worship in certain educational institutions) This article permits educational institutions that are maintained by religious groups to disseminate religious instruction.

What does Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights mean?

Article 14 of the UDHR grants the right to seek and enjoy asylum from persecution. This right, in addition to the right to leave one’s own country (Article 13), and the right to nationality (Article 15), can be traced directly to events of the Holocaust.

What does Article 6 of the UDHR mean?

Article 6 of the UDHR states that “Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law”, regardless of whether they are citizens or immigrants, students or tourists, workers or refugees, or any other group.

What is Article 1 of the Human Rights Act?

Article 1 Protection of property Every natural or legal person is entitled to the peaceful enjoyment of his possessions. No one shall be deprived of his possessions except in the public interest and subject to the conditions provided for by law and by the general principles of international law.

What is the Article 29?

(1) Any section of the citizens residing in the territory of India or any part thereof having a distinct language, script or culture of its own shall have the right to conserve the same.