Right to Life and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948

Abstract

The charter of human rights is a holy document and role model for the world. Article 3 of the UDHR reads that “right to life, liberty and security of a person” cannot be deprived without “due process of law.” Moreover, right to get free education, clean water, unpolluted environment and home are basic rights of human beings. Islam gives us a complete code of life and full explanation of which can be witnessed in the Holy Quran and Sunnah. Slogan of “liberty, equality and fraternity” paved the way for great French and U.S revolutions. First ten amendments of US constitution are known as “Bill of Rights” and all of them are basic rights of citizens. The story of rights began with the fall of man. Ancient thinkers and philosophers like Hobbes and Locke spent their lives for achievement of rights of mankind. 20th century is the period of independence of countries and emergence of human rights. Right to life is so important today that it has been guaranteed by almost all constitutions of the world including Pakistan. It is believed that the end of law is justice, and as such the very purpose of this article is to protect right to life of man. Main aim of this paper is, therefore, to highlight importance of this constitutional provision concerning “right to life”, seeking guidance from higher law, like the Holy Quran and Sunnah and other relevant cases law on “right to life”.