This episode considers the relevance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
today, in spite of the political compromises which surrounded its drafting, resulting in
ambiguous norms which rely on domestic legal systems for meaning as well as
effective implementation.
As the previous episodes have shown, impulses towards individual rights and
freedoms have always been conflicting and conflicted, and have never exhibited a
consistent, linear, upward development. Human dignity as expressed as rights to
freedom and equality has never been an immutable concept, and is not so now.
If so, how useful can the Declaration be today?
This episode focuses on three facts: the contribution of the Declaration to the
processes of human rights; its contribution to coping with today’s human rights
flashpoints; and its relevance in addressing new horizons in international law.
The episode contains further excerpts of the interview the presenter conducted with
John Humphrey, the Canadian scholar who constructed the initial draft of the
Declaration, as well as interviews with Ambassador Hans Corell (the former UN
Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs) and with the Hon Michael Kirby (former
Justice of the High Court of Australia).

This episode considers the relevance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights today, in spite of the political compromises which surrounded its drafting, resulting in ambiguous norms which rely on domestic legal systems for meaning as well as effective implementation. As the previous episodes have shown, impulses towards individual rights and freedoms have always been conflicting and conflicted, and have never exhibited a consistent, linear, upward development. Human dignity as expressed as rights to freedom and equality has never been an immutable concept, and is not so now. If so, how useful can the Declaration be today? This episode focuses on three facts: the contribution of the Declaration to the processes of human rights; its contribution to coping with today’s human rights flashpoints; and its relevance in addressing new horizons in international law. The episode contains further excerpts of the interview the presenter conducted with John Humphrey, the Canadian scholar who constructed the initial draft of the Declaration, as well as interviews with Ambassador Hans Corell (the former UN Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs) and with the Hon Michael Kirby (former Justice of the High Court of Australia).

2023 marks the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Was it the
most important legal document of the 20th century, still hale and hearty in the 21st century,
or is it past its prime?

It has been surrounded by myth and misunderstanding. It has been misunderstood,
misquoted and sometimes mismanaged. It has been called racist and misogynistic. Yet it
remains a legal, social and cultural lodestone. How can this be?

This series of 7 podcasts looks into these questions, but rather than being simply a legalistic or philosophical discussion, it looks at the people behind the idea that has become human rights. How ancient are human rights? Are revolutions necessary to create human rights?

Is passion important? What happened in the 20 th century to provide the impulses towards
the Universal Declaration? How was it drafted in the United Nations in a Cold War climate? Is it still relevant today and how is it being used or misused?

The presenter, Dr Phillip Tahmindjis, is an Australian human rights lawyer and former Director of the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute. In that capacity he has undertaken human rights training all over the world (including Libya, Nepal and Swaziland/Eswatini), undertaken human rights capacity building programs in Afghanistan and Myanmar, drafted guidelines for human rights fact-finding and reporting, and consults with governments and industry on implementation of human rights and anti-discrimination measures. In 2012 he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for services to the international community and human rights.

2023 marks the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Was it the most important legal document of the 20th century, still hale and hearty in the 21st century, or is it past its prime?
It has been surrounded by myth and misunderstanding. It has been misunderstood, misquoted and sometimes mismanaged. It has been called racist and misogynistic. Yet it remains a legal, social and cultural lodestone. How can this be?
This series of 7 podcasts looks into these questions, but rather than being simply a legalistic or philosophical discussion, it looks at the people behind the idea that has become human rights. How ancient are human rights? Are revolutions necessary to create human rights?
Is passion important? What happened in the 20 th century to provide the impulses towards the Universal Declaration? How was it drafted in the United Nations in a Cold War climate? Is it still relevant today and how is it being used or misused?
The presenter, Dr Phillip Tahmindjis, is an Australian human rights lawyer and former Director of the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute. In that capacity he has undertaken human rights training all over the world (including Libya, Nepal and Swaziland/Eswatini), undertaken human rights capacity building programs in Afghanistan and Myanmar, drafted guidelines for human rights fact-finding and reporting, and consults with governments and industry on implementation of human rights and anti-discrimination measures. In 2012 he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for services to the international community and human rights.

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