eleanor roosevelt: adoption of the declaration of human rights
mr. president, fellow delegates:
the long and meticulous study and debate of which this universal declaration of human rights is the product means that it reflects the composite views of the many men and governments who have contributed to its formulation. not every man nor every government can have what he wants in a document of this kind. there are of course particular provisions in the declaration before us with which we are not fully satisfied. i have no doubt this is true of other delegations, and it would still be true if we continued our labors over many years. taken as a whole the delegation of the
certain provisions of the declaration are stated in such broad terms as to be acceptable only because of the limitations in article 29 providing for limitation on the exercise of the rights for the purpose of meeting the requirements of morality, public order, and the general welfare. an example of this is the provision that everyone has the right of equal access to the public service in his country. the basic principle of equality and of nondiscrimination as to public employment is sound, but it cannot be accepted without limitations. my government, for example, would consider that this is unquestionably subject to limitat