Daisy Francis, CRS protection policy/issues advisor, reflects on an article near and dear to her heart:

Article 24 is my favorite article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) — the right to a vacation. Who doesn’t want this to be a universal right?

Looking closer at Article 24, you find a number of things. First, it argues that there is a “right to rest and leisure.” The UDHR was born in the ashes of World War II, when the reality of Nazi and Japanese work camps was before everyone; those trapped in camps had neither rest nor leisure. This is also why you see the second element of the Article, a call for “reasonable limitations of working hours”. The UDHR sought to stand with and advance the work undertaken by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) on behalf of workers everywhere.

Today, CRS supports the battle against child labor in the cut flower industry in Ecuador. We also support the Caritas Lebanon Migrant Center on behalf of migrant workers in Lebanon. Those associations align us with the historic struggle to secure safe and just working environments and rights for adult workers (and schooling for children, a priority as outlined in UDHR Article 26). Article 24 gives expression to our belief that a life lived in dignity must be one freed from unending labor.

- Daisy Francis

December 10 is the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Each day leading up to that date, we’ll post one of the thirty articles of the declaration.

Article 25

1. Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.

2. Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.

December 10 is the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Each day leading up to that date, we’ll post one of the thirty articles of the declaration.

Article 24

Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.

December 10 is the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Each day leading up to that date, we’ll post one of the thirty articles of the declaration.

Article 23

1. Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.

2. Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.

3. Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.

4. Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.

December 10 is the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Each day leading up to that date, we’ll post one of the thirty articles of the declaration.

Article 21

1. Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.

2. Everyone has the right to equal access to public service in his country.

3. The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.

December 10 is the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Each day leading up to that date, we’ll post one of the thirty articles of the declaration.

Article 22

Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality.

December 10 is the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Each day leading up to that date, we’ll post one of the thirty articles of the declaration.

Article 20

1. Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.

2. No one may be compelled to belong to an association.

December 10 is the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Each day leading up to that date, we’ll post one of the thirty articles of the declaration.

Article 19

Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

December 10 is the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Each day leading up to that date, we’ll post one of the thirty articles of the declaration.

Article 18

Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

December 10 is the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Each day leading up to that date, we’ll post one of the thirty articles of the declaration.

Article 17

1. Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.

2. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.