d
TO
K
a
ro 44
f
S
1
f
h
f
S
e
SS-
(D
1
a
Y
t
า
ลง
ID
enforce this even against governments.
The State is called
upon to respect the privacy of the individual - including his freedom of thought, religious practice and opinion. The
economic and social progress of man is also guaranteed in some
detail. Не has the right to private property, employment, social security, education, medical attention, food, housing
and even clothing. In the world of the eighties, it holds out
promises which are utopian. The Declaration and its relevant
articles are an ideal backdrop,
backdrop, a shimmering mirage which we
strive to attain. If these should be rights, how many govern-
ments are in a position to ensure that their citizens can enjoy
them? Are they indeed always accessible to the very men and
women who hold the reins of power in the majority of indepen-
dent nations today?
19. In connection with the conceptual framework of this Study,
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948 has been used
as a basic text against which the study of mass exodus has been
carried out. It is however fully realized that the 1948
document was essentially a declaration of intent on the part of
States, and had no binding effect. Although it had consider- able impact as a result in terms of moral pressure, particu- larly coming as it did in the atmosphere at the post-war era,
large portions of the Declaration have, by the very nature of things, remained unheeded by many States in practically
every continent.
20. Realizing that this declaration of intent needed to be
translated into more concrete terms leading to tangible action,
the United Nations General Assembly tenaciously carried forward the work initiated in 1948. The two most important results
were the
the International Covenants (i) on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights and (ii)
(ii) on Civil and Political Rights, the
latter having an Optional Protocol. The purpose was to
t