Nothing in the present Declaration shall be construed as restricting or derogating any right defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenants on Human Rights.

Introduction

Article 8 of the 1981 U.N. Declaration is known as a “saving clause” because it bars any claim made in the name of the Declaration for restricting or derogating the rights to freedom of religion or belief already guaranteed under existing international human rights protections. The purpose of Article 8 is to cover any shortcomings in the 1981 U.N. Declaration based on the seemingly irreconcilable religious and non-religious political positions taken by some States over the twenty year drafting history.

Objectives

Understand the terms in relation to the U.N. International Bill of Rights—Universal Declaration of Human Rights and two International Covenants.

• Restrict or Derogate
• Covenants and Conventions

TOPIC NOTES

PARAGRAPH 8.1: INTERNATIONAL BILL OF HUMAN RIGHTS

Nothing in the present Declaration shall be construed as restricting or derogating any right defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenants on Human Rights.