What argument does Roosevelt make in this passage?
Read the passage from Eleanor Roosevelt's speech
on the adoption of the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights.
The first two paragraphs of the amendment to
article 3 deal with the question of minorities, which
committee 3 decided required further study, and has
recommended, in a separate resolution, their
reference to the Economic and Social Council and
the Human Rights Commission. As set out in the
Soviet amendment this provision clearly states
"group," and not "individual," rights.
The Soviet amendment to article 20 is obviously a
very restrictive statement of the right to freedom of
opinion and expression. It sets up standards which
would enable any state practically to deny all
freedom of opinion and expression without violating
the article. It introduces the terms "democratic view."
"democratic systems," "democratic state," and
o If the Assembly fails to approve the Soviet
amendments, individual freedom may soon
disappear.
o If the Assembly fails to approve the Soviet
amendments, the Soviets might have to declare
war
The Soviet amendments mention fascism, which
is too controversial a topic for the UDHR.
0 The Soviet amendments endanger human
freedoms by emphasizing group rights over
individual rights