Eleanor Roosevelt and the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights
by Elena Dodd
The name of Eleanor Roosevelt has become almost synonymous with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Appointed as a United Nations delegate in 1946, Mrs. Roosevelt became a member of the U. N. Human Rights Commission the following year, was elected its chairwoman, and settled down to the challenge of creating a Human Rights Charter—a task the Commission completed in three years, but its realization remains unfinished fifty years later. Nevertheless, by practicing the "art of the possible," Eleanor Roosevelt achieved a triumph. She steered the Commission toward producing the Declaration as a preamble to the Charter, to be followed by a Covenant. The resulting document outlines basic human rights and responsibilities and was adopted by the General Assembly in 1948. Since then two Covenants have been added; these require a commitment to enforce the rights defined in the Declaration. As of 1996 the United States had ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and signed but not ratified the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
We can picture Mrs. Roosevelt addressing her task—in Geneva, New York and Paris—presiding over long, grueling sessions; apologizing for arriving five minutes late; disciplining long-winded speakers; despairing when it seemed the Commission would have to traverse the same ground all over again because a new delegate had joined the group; negotiating the cultural and ideological differences represented by members from China, Lebanon, Soviet Russia and Australia. She had to conduct an intense dialogue surrounded by a swarm of translators, policy advisors and secretaries. Occasionally she took over the French translation herself.
The job was finally over when the Declaration was approved by the General Assembly at 4 AM, December 10, 1948. It was not perfect. Eleanor Roosevelt had hoped for a document so short and simple as to be easily memorized by people everywhere, but although the document preserves a direct, accessible style it is several pages long, containing thirty articles. Mrs. Roosevelt sought unanimous approval; in the final voting, several Communist countries abstained, but this in itself was an enormous tribute to her work, as the delegates had undoubtedly been instructed to vote NO. Forty-eight nations voted YES; there were eight abstentions (Byelorussian SSR, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Russian SSR, Saudia Arabia, Ukrainian SSR, Union of South Africa and Yugoslavia) and no dissenting votes. Almost two generations later this document stands as an inspiring statement that has achieved the force of law in the eyes of the world.
Elena Dodd is a writer and performer from southern Vermont. She tours as Eleanor Roosevelt in the one-woman theatre piece, "Meet Eleanor Roosevelt" by Josephine Lane and Elena Dodd. The show presents Mrs. Roosevelt in an informal lecture format recounting with humor and frankness some of the great challenges of her life.
Beginning in August 1998, Elena will travel cross-country in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Extended stays are planned in Omaha, NE; Bend, OR; Tulsa, OK; Albuquerque, NM and Daytona Beach, FL.
For information and bookings please contact:
Ellen Weiner
Professional Artists Management
2411 Bay Road, Sharon, MA, 02067
phone: 781–784–6394
e-mail: elweiner@worldnet.att.net
To contact Elena Dodd via e-mail: windmill@sover.net
