Report on the Analysis of the Compliance of EU Authorities' Actions with the Provisions of the UDHR
Report Date: February 27, 2025
Prepared by: HUMAN RIGHTS & ANALYTICAL HOUSE, INC.
1. Introduction
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948, is the primary international document protecting human rights and freedoms worldwide. It establishes fundamental rights and freedoms such as freedom of speech, the right to participate in government, and protection from arbitrary restrictions.
The actions of EU authorities in recent years raise serious concerns, particularly in the context of restrictions imposed under the pretext of combating the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as censorship policies that violate the rights to freedom of expression and access to information.
2. Analysis of Article 29 of the UDHR
Article 29 of the UDHR states that every person must respect the rights of others and adhere to moral standards, public order, and general welfare when exercising their rights and freedoms. However, it is crucial to emphasize that this article solely concerns the obligations of individuals and does not grant the state any authority to impose restrictions. The purpose of this article is to ensure that individuals do not infringe on the rights of others while exercising their freedoms.
Article 29 explicitly clarifies that the rights and freedoms of every person should be exercised within general norms, and any limitations only apply to individuals' actions, not to the state's authority to impose such restrictions.
3. Article 30 of the UDHR and the Prohibition on the Interpretation of Human Rights
Article 30 of the UDHR explicitly prohibits any interpretation that could be used to restrict the rights and freedoms guaranteed in the Declaration. Specifically, it states that:
"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."
This means that any actions taken by EU authorities to restrict citizens' rights and freedoms, including those justified on the grounds of national security, public health, or pandemic response, violate the UDHR unless they fully comply with international standards and align with the principles outlined in Article 30.
4. Human Rights Violations in the Context of EU Authorities' Actions
In recent years, EU authorities have implemented measures that raise concerns regarding human rights compliance. These include:
- Restrictions on freedom of speech,
- The introduction of internet censorship,
- Harsh measures in response to the pandemic, including mandatory vaccination.
Such actions violate fundamental freedoms guaranteed by the UDHR.
Most notably, the censorship policies and restrictions on freedom of expression and political participation imposed by EU authorities contradict key provisions of the UDHR, including Articles 19 and 21, which explicitly guarantee freedom of speech and the right to participate in governance.
5. Conclusion
The actions of EU authorities in establishing censorship and restricting freedom of speech, as well as the imposition of severe limitations under the guise of pandemic response, contradict the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, particularly Articles 29 and 30.
- Article 29 of the UDHR does not grant states the right to impose restrictions but rather defines the individual's duty to respect others' rights.
- Article 30 explicitly prohibits any interpretation of the Declaration that allows for the restriction of human rights.
Thus, the EU authorities' actions aimed at censorship and the restriction of fundamental freedoms constitute violations of international human rights standards and require review and adaptation in accordance with the principles of the UDHR.