Child Trafficking

Child trafficking

Rights to a fair Trial! Suaram's Press Statement on Death in Custody.

Press Statement: 11 June 2013

STOP MORE DEATHS! STOP STATE VIOLENCE! NOTHING LESS THAN THE IPCMC!

Death List of 2013

The latest list of deaths under police custody for year 2013:

Date Name Age Location
14-Jan-13 Chang Chin Te 30 USJ 8
23-Jan-13 Sugumaran 39 Batu 14 Cheras
01-Feb-13 Mohd.Ropi 43 Temerloh, Died at the Sultan Ahmad Shah Hospital
10-Mar-13 M.Ragu 47 Kampar
17-Mar-13 UNKNOWN 55 Seri Alam Johor
21-May-13 Darmaindren 32 IPK KL
27-May-13 Jamesh Ramesh 40 Penang
01-Jun-13 Karunanithi 42 IPD Tampin
08-Jun-13 Nobuhiro Matsushita 33 USJ 8

9 cases of custodial death within 6 months of 2013. Comparing the total 9 deaths for the full year of 2012. Will the figures escalate for 2013 with the government and specifically the police force resisting any form of reform through an independent commission? Has the government and in particular the police believe that they are above accountability and thus continue to act with impunity? The rakyat says otherwise.

Revamping EAIC is the wrong road map for reform and accountability.

The Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) clearly has proven by its commissions and performance that of issuing warnings is a toothless tiger without any power of enforcement of decisions taken.. Its CEO Nor Afizah Hanum Mokhtar acknowledged that only one investigating officer was assigned to probe 19 agencies (4 June 2013). She also suggested the need to increase the annual budget to at least RM25 million in order to perform well. However, the Stop State Violence movement believes that it is not just a question of more money or personnel for investigations, but the powers given to them to conduct effective investigations as well as to enforce their decisions. The EAIC can only give recommendations and then it is up to the police force to act on it. In spite of calls by the rakyat and civil society for the last ten years, the police force has not made any changes. It will continue to do so as it believes that it has wide powers in itself to act with impunity and the government of the day – BN government needs it to maintain power.

PKR in a press statement yesterday 11-06-13, stated that a member of the Enforcement Agencies Integrity Commission (EAIC), Salehuddin Saidin is representing one of the 3 police officers charged as a lawyer for the murder of death in custody victim N Dhamendran. This is indeed a conflict of interest. How can he be expected to be independent and objective in his EAIC duties while defending his client.

With the revelation and the failure of the EAIC, it is indeed ridiculous for Datuk Paul Low, particularly as a former President of Transparency International Malaysia to continue to harp that it is better to revamp the EAIC than make all efforts to establish the IPCMC.

We would like to remind Datuk Paul Low to get his facts and analysis right. The Royal Commission on the Police force took a lot of effort, study and investigations to come up with a solid proposal for the oversight called Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission that can, and will bring about a reformed, disciplined and corrupt free police force that will be the pride of our nation.

SSV would also like to remind the new Minister in the Prime Ministers Department that it is not the issue of staff shortage or annual budget problem. The root issue of the EAIC is, the absence of power namely the prosecution power. The EAIC only has the power to investigate complaints and the finding of its investigation will be referred back to the police force.

Comparatively, the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) has more power as an oversight mechanism as it can initiate legal action against any officers for abuse of power. IPCMC was one of the 125 recommendations made by the Royal Commission of Police back in 2004.

Another power that IPCMC has, is to initiate its own investigation into any police power abuse cases without the need for a complaint to be made. EAIC on the other hand, waits for a complaint to be made before starting the investigations. If the EAIC was indeed an oversight mechanism for the agencies, it would have immediately launched an independent inquiry to get to the truth of the complaints of police power abuses that occurred.

We would like to provide a brief on the IPCMC as below:

1. Appointment of commissioners are done by Agong
2. IPCMC must be an independent body formed under the Parliament Act.
3. Commissioners durations are limited for 3 years only
4. Commissioners should not be from the police force- current of former.
5. IPCMC needs to submit its report to Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong
6. IPCMC needs to present its report in the Parliament.

We would also like to list some of the powers of IPCMC that was recommended by the Royal Commission of Inquiry back in 2005:

1. Power to initiate its own investigations without any complaints
2. Power to order PDRM or other agencies to provide any documents related to investigations.
3. Not subject to any secrecy law including the Official Secrets Act (OSA).
4. Power to initiate legal action on its own via its legal counsel.
5. Power to call up witness to hear their testimonies.
6. Power to enter premises including government offices for investigations purpose.

However, the police force needs a comprehensive and total reform. The Royal Commission did address it in totality and thus made various recommendations. We cannot just address death in custody but also how do we prevent torture while a person in custody. There is a dire need for better ways of investigations and accompanying procedures. There is a need for special courts as well. The SSV movement sees that there is a need to make the reforms collectively for a genuine change to be realized.
At the minimum, the following seven demands need to be taken up immediately and acted upon:

1. Without fear or favor, bring all offenders among the police, MACC and other enforcement agencies, to justice.
2. Immediately establish the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC)
3. Institute an Ombudsmen system that enforces human rights practice in all enforcement agencies and their places of detention such as prisons, immigration detention centers and lockups;
4. Review and make public the law enforcement agencies’ standard operating procedures including the Inspector General Standing Order on police guidelines on discharge of firearms and detention and interrogation;
5. Support the setting up of an independent and competent Coroner’s Court system to replace the current Magistrate’s Inquest which is extremely problematic and ineffective;
6. Ratify the Convention against Torture and the Optional protocol” followed by necessary laws to eliminate torture.
7. Support human rights education and training programs, with a view to changing the attitudes, perceptions and methods of law enforcement personnel.

The SSV Coalition will begin an intensive campaign to end state violence against people with a initial series of actions:

1. On 13 June 2013, Thursday, a Public Forum “Stop State Violence” IPCMC Now. Will be organized at the Bar Council auditorium, KL
2. We will come up with a pledge for a commitment from MP’s to support the implementation of IPCMC
3. Online petition to support the implementation of IPCMC
https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/minister-of-home-affairs-igp-and-chief-commissioner-stop-state-violence
4. Putting up banners on implementing the IPCMC.

This Coalition is supported by the following 30 organizations signed below.

Stop State Violence Movement

1. SUARAM

2. Tenaganita

3. Lawyers For Liberty
4. Malaysians for Beng Hock
5. Pusat Komunikasi Masyarakat (Komas)
6. Amnesty International Malaysia
7. Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Masyarakat (Empower)
8. Malaysia Youth And Student Democratic Movement (DEMA)
9. Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia (SABM)
10. Civil Rights Committee of KLSCAH
11. EMPOWER
12. Civil Society Committee of LLG Cultural Development Centre
13. KL Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall Youth
14. Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (JERIT)
15. Community Development Centre (CDC)
16. Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture (MADPET)
17. Persatuan masyarakat Selangor dan Wilayah Persekutuan (PERMAS)
18. Community Action Network (CAN)
19. Serdang Bahru School Alumni Youth Section
20. Persatuan Komuniti Prihatin Selangor & KL (Prihatin)
21. Angkatan Warga Aman Malaysia (WargaAMAN)
22. MALAYSIAN INDIANS PROGRESSIVE ASSOCIATION (MIPAS)
23. PEOPLE’S WELFARE AND RIGHTS COALITION (POWER)
24. MALAYSIAN INDIANS TRANSFORMATION ACTION TEAM (MITRA)
25. ANGKATAN NASIONAL INDIA MALAYSIA (AGNI)
26. Sunflower Electoral Education Movement (SEED)
27. Japan Graduates’ Association of Malaysia
28. Persatuan Sahabat Wanita
29. Writers Alliance for Media Independence (WAMI)\
30. Kelab Bangsar Utama

Source : http://www.suaram.net/?p=5638

SUARAM's Press Statement on Police Violence at Bersih rally.

Press Statement: 30 April 2012

 The Malaysian government must investigate police violence at Bersih rally and take major steps to overhaul a policing system that facilitates and perpetrates human rights violations!

 SUARAM strongly condemns the use of unnecessary and excessive force by the police to stop the BERSIH 3.0 (Clean and Fair Election Coalition) Sit-In protest yesterday at the Kuala Lumpur. SUARAM condemns the police and the government for preventing people from exercising their fundamental right to freedom of expression assembly and the police violence and attacks against peaceful protesters, journalists and the general public.

The Sit-in Protest was attended by more than 250,000 supporters of BERSIH. The Sit-In protest was held because people have lost faith in the Malaysian Election Commission which has lost its credibility after it failed to act on recommendations towards strengthening and improving the electoral processes in the country.

Unnecessary and Excessive force

The crowds that had gathered for the BERSIH 3.0 are from various section of Malaysian society, and they were peaceful. The riot police (FRU) fired tear gas and water cannons indiscriminately into the crowd in the main area where the peaceful protesters had assembled

The excessive, dangerous and potentially fatal manner, in which teargas was used against the peaceful protesters, including key BERSIH leaders and other political party leaders supporting the gathering warrants serious attention. The unprecedented use of force inflicted thousands of injuries while around 471 people were arrested arbitrarily.

The United Nations Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials states that, “Law enforcement officials, in carrying out their duty, shall, as far as possible, apply non-violent means before resorting to the use of force and firearms. They may use force only if other means remain ineffective or without any promise of achieving the intended result” and whenever the lawful use of force and firearms is unavoidable, law enforcement officials shall:

(a) Exercise restraint in such use and act in proportion to the seriousness of the offence and the legitimate objective to be achieved;

(b) Minimize damage and injury, and respect and preserve human life;

SUARAM believes any public protest or rally should be conducted peacefully and we do not condone any kind of provocative behavior during peaceful assemblies. We call on the authorities to investigate and prosecute any anyone who behaved violently and caused any untoward incidents at the protest.

However their action of a small group of people do not justify the disproportionate response of the police in using excessive use of force to disperse the protesters and the continuous use of tear gas against them. Instead of conducting themselves professionally to manage the public order situation the police were involved in committing human rights violations including beating and kicking peaceful protesters.

SUARAM Ground Monitoring and Findings

SUARAM activists placed our monitoring and urgent arrest team at all the six meeting points. According to our data that we collected through SMS and phone calls, we received many phone calls to all our six hand phone numbers as well as to our office. We only manage to record 100 names of those arrested. We were unable to obtain the names or contact numbers of others as they did not provide their details.  The data collected is as followed:

Table 1: SUARAM monitoring BERSIH 3.0 2012/04/28

Complaints received via SMS and phone calls	Only 100 names were recorded of those arrested and detained that came through SMS and phone calls.
Complaints received as follows:	Arrested by police without reason Beaten up by police before arrest took place Minor Injury after police used tear gas and water canon

1. IC was not return back after released

1. Injured and send to General Hospital Kuala Lumpur

 1. Fell down

 2. Eye witness to police brutality with evidence

1. Police stopped people from entering the nearby LRT stations

Actions taken by SUARAM

1. Advised according to needs
2. Assistance on other issues like people missing, how to lodge police reports, where to find LRT stations and so on
3. Send out urgent alert to all local and international Ngos/CSOs/United Nations Special Rapporteurs/Prime Minister’s office/Home Ministry and Bukit Aman
4. Recorded details of each individuals
5. Follow up with victims and witnesses

 Status of those arrested

All releasedStatus of those injured and admitted in HospitalSUARAM visited the victims at the General Hospital Kuala Lumpur on 29 April 2012. Met Dr. Abu Hassan and according to him the GHKL received up to 113 cases:

• 9  women’s,
• 11  police officers,
• 13 admitted
• 1 went through surgery

 As of yesterday only 7 were still admitted for follow up and for injuries. They are

• 2 journalists from The Sun and Hijarh
• 2 police officers
• 3 protesters (one is minor, 17 years old)

                      (Source: SUARAM Urgent Arrest and Monitoring Team)

IPCMC is more crucial now!

The history of human rights violations by the police, documented over the years by SUARAM, while using repressive laws such as Section 27 of Police Act and the recent Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 against the peaceful protesters clearly shows why the police should not be given such broad powers under the law and why there is a need for the setting up of an independent police oversight body in Malaysia. The government needs to set up the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) as per the recommendations made by the 2005 Royal Commission on Policing without further delay.

The Malaysian government should also take major steps to overhaul a policing system that does not respect or protect the human rights of its citizens. For decades, successive governments have failed to deliver on promises to hold the police accountable for abuses and to build professional, rights-respecting police forces.

Malaysiais modernizing rapidly, but the police continue to use their old methods: abuse and threats. It’s time for the government to stop talking about reform and fix the system.

We demand the Government;

1. To conduct a prompt, thorough and impartial investigation into all reports of unnecessary or excessive use of force by police during the BERSIH protest, in particular where it has caused injury. The findings of these investigations should be made public in a timely manner. Those suspected of arbitrary or excessive use of force, including those with command responsibility for such use, should be prosecuted and victims should be granted reparations.
2. To review or repeal Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 so that it is in line with  Article 10 of the Federal Constitution which guarantees the right to freedom of assembly and other international human rights standards
3. To establish the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) as per the recommendations made by the 2005 Royal Commission on Policing without further delay.
4. To take the necessary steps to sign and ratify without delay, and thereafter effectively implement the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment as well as the Optional Protocol to this Convention and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).  

 Released by, 

Nalini Elumalai

Executive Director of SUARAM

source : http://www.suaram.net/?p=2777

Hak-Hak Pengguna

Apakah Hak-Hak Pengguna?

• Hak untuk mendapat keperluan asas

Pengguna berhak untuk mendapat keperluan asas bagi meneruskan kehidupan yang memuaskan seperti makanan, pakaian, tempat kediaman, kesihatan, pendidikan, kemudahan awam, air dan sanitasi.

• Hak untuk mendapat barangan dan perkhidmatan yang selamat

Pengguna berhak untuk dilindungi daripada barangan, proses pengeluaran dan perkhidmatan yang boleh membahayakan kesihatan atau kehidupan.

• Hak untuk mendapatkan maklumat

Pengguna berhak untuk diberitahu fakta-fakta yang diperlukan bagi membolehkan mereka membuat pilihan yang tepat dan dilindungi daripada pengiklanan serta pelabelan yang tidak jujur atau mengelirukan.

• Hak untuk membuat pilihan

Pengguna berhak untuk memilih daripada pelbagai barangan dan perkhidmatan yang ditawarkan pada harga yang kompetitif dan jaminan kualiti yang memuaskan.

• Hak untuk menyuarakan pendapat

Pengguna berhak untuk bersuara bagi memastikan kepentingan pengguna mendapat pertimbangan sewajarnya dalam penggubalan dan pelaksanaan dasar kerajaan, serta dalam pembangunan barangan dan perkhidmatan oleh pengeluar.

• Hak untuk mendapat ganti rugi

Pengguna berhak untuk mendapat penyelesaian yang adil termasuk pampasan bagi pembelian barangan yang mempunyai perihal dagangan yang mengelirukan, kurang bermutu atau perkhidmatan yang tidak memuaskan.

• Hak untuk mendapat pendidikan pengguna

Pengguna berhak untuk mendapat pendidikan dan kemahiran yang diperlukan bagi membolehkan mereka membuat pilihan yang bijak dalam pembelian barangan dan perkhidmatan, serta mengamalkan hak dan tanggungjawab mereka sebagai pengguna.

• Hak untuk hidup dalam alam sekitar yang sihat dan selamat

Pengguna berhak untuk hidup dan bekerja dalam alam sekitar yang bersih, sihat dan tidak berbahaya kepada generasi masa kini serta generasi akan datang.

Apakah Perkara Yang Perlu Diteliti Oleh Seseorang Pengguna Semasa membeli Sesuatu Barang?

• Tempat asal barangan/produk, termasuk nama dan alamat pengilang, pengimport, penjual borong, ejen atau pengedar, kumpulan barangan, nombor model/stok dan  tanda perniagaan.
• Tarikh produk dikilangkan dan tarikh luput
• Berat minimum, kuantiti, amaun atau muatan barang-barang.
• Penerangan umum tentang produk termasuk kandungan, kapasiti, panduan penggunaan dan batasannya
• Penerangan khusus tentang kandungan produk seperti senarai, nisbah dan khasiat bahan-bahan.

• Kualiti atau keupayaan produk misalnya tanda kelulusan, gred dan sebagainya. (contoh: SIRIM, Suruhanjaya Tenaga).
• Terma-terma khusus mengenai jualan termasuk harga cadangan, diskaun dan tawaran istimewa.
• Maklumat khusus seperti amaran, peraturan-peraturan kecemasan untuk golongan pengguna tertentu (contoh: kanak-kanak). 

Pengguna sering ditipu menerusi: 

Penipuan Perkhidmatan, Penipuan Harga, Cetak Rompak, Penipuan Jualan Langsung, Produk Tiruan, Tanda Harga Yang Mengelirukan, Khidmat Bengkel Kenderaan Bermotor Yang Tidak Telus, Aktiviti Menyorok Barang Kawalan, Penipuan Perjanjian Sewa Beli.

Aduan Pengguna

• Menerima aduan daripada pengadu melalui telefon, laman web, surat dan datang sendiri ke Pusat Pengurusan Aduan Pengguna (PPAP).
• Aduan disalurkan kepada agensi-agensi yang terlibat untuk diselesaikan. Dimaklumkan bahawa tidak semua aduan yang diterima merupakan bidang kuasa Bahagian Gerakan Kepenggunaan (BK) untuk menyelesaikannya.
  

Jika pengguna tidak berpuas hati dengan harga atau kualiti barangan atau perkhidmatan yang ditawarkan, pengguna boleh merujuk kepada KPDNKK melalui:

• Talian bebas tol

1 - 800 - 886 - 800

• Portal Rasmi:

      http://e-aduan.kpdnkk.gov.my/

Sumber : Kementerian Perdagangan Dalam Negeri, Koperasi dan Kepenggunaan. http://www.kpdnkk.gov.my/pengguna/hak-pengguna

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a declaration adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 10 December 1948 at Palais de Chaillot, Paris. The Declaration arose directly from the experience of the Second World War and represents the first global expression of rights to which all human beings are inherently entitled. 

It consists of 30 articles which have been elaborated in subsequent international treaties, regional human rights instruments, national constitutions and laws. The International Bill of Human Rights consists of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and its two Optional Protocols. In 1966 the General Assembly adopted the two detailed Covenants, which complete the International Bill of Human Rights; and in 1976, after the Covenants had been ratified by a sufficient number of individual nations, the Bill took on the force of international law.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY proclaims THIS UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTSas a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction. 

Article 1.

• All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Article 2.

• Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.

Article 3.

• Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

Article 4.

• No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.

Article 5.

• No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Article 6.

• Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.

Article 7.

• All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.

Article 8.

• Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.

Article 9.

• No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.

Article 10.

• Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.

Article 11.

• (1) Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence.
• (2) No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offence, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal offence was committed.

Article 12.

• No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.

Article 13.

• (1) Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state.
• (2) Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.

Article 14

• (1) Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.
• (2) This right may not be invoked in the case of prosecutions genuinely arising from non-political crimes or from acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Article 15.

• (1) Everyone has the right to a nationality.
• (2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality.

Article 16.

• (1) Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.
• (2) Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses.
• (3) The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 of 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.

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.

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.

Article 24.

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

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.

Article 26.

• (1) Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.
• (2) Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.
• (3) Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.

Article 27.

• (1) Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.
• (2) Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the author.

Article 28.

• Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized.

Article 29.

• (1) Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible.
• (2) In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society.
• (3) These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Article 30.

• Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.