It is the foundation of international human rights law, the first universal statement on the basic principles of inalienable human rights, and a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations. It was the UDHR, almost 60 years ago, that first recognized what have become nowadays universal values: human rights are inherent to all and the concern of the whole of the international community. Drafted by representatives of all regions and legal traditions, the UDHR has stood the test of time. The Declaration and its core values, including non-discrimination, equality, fairness and universality, apply to everyone, everywhere and always. The Declaration represents a contract between governments and their peoples, who have a right to demand that this document be respected. Not all governments have become parties to all human rights treaties. All countries, however, have accepted the UDHR. The Declaration continues to affirm the inherent human dignity and worth of every person in the world, without distinction of any kind.

The UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity was adopted unanimously in a most unusual context. It came in the wake of the events of 11 September 2001, and the UNESCO General Conference was the first ministerial-level meeting to be held after those terrible events. It suggests implementation of cultural rights as defined in Article 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in Articles 13 and 15 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and cultural Rights. It raises cultural diversity to the level of "the common heritage of humanity", "as necessary for humankind as biodiversity is for nature" and makes its defence an ethical imperative indissociable from respect for the dignity of the individual.

The Conference affirms that every man woman and child has the inalienable right to be free from hunger and malnutrition in order to develop fully and maintain their physical and mental faculties. Society today already possesses sufficient resources organizational ability and technology and hence the competence to achieve this objective. Accordingly the eradication of hunger is a common objective of all the countries of the international community especially of the developed countries and others in a position to help. . It is a fundamental responsibility of Governments to work together for higher food production and a more equitable and efficient distribution of food between countries and within countries. Adapted in 1974, it still remains on the books through much of the focus has shifted to specific targets under the action points of the MDG’s.

As a basis for the Plan of Action for Nutrition and guidance for formulation of national plans of action, including the development of measurable goals and objectives within time frames, the Declaration (Rome, December 1992) pledges to make all efforts to eliminate before the end of 2000: famine and famine-related deaths; starvation and nutritional deficiency diseases in communities affected by natural and man-made disasters; iodine and vitamin A deficiencies. Also to reduce substantially within the same time frame: starvation and widespread chronic hunger; under nutrition, especially among children, women and the aged; other important micronutrient deficiencies, including iron; diet-related communicable and non-communicable diseases; social and other impediments to optimal breast-feeding; inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene, including unsafe drinking-water. Many of these elements have been incorporated into the MDG’s