Universal Declaration of Human Rights
The Universal Declaration was adopted by the General Assembly as Resolution 217 on 10 December 1948 in Palais de Chaillot, Paris, as the third United Nations General Assembly was held there . Of the then 58 members of the United Nations, 48 voted in favour, none against, eight abstained and Honduras and Yemen failed to vote or abstain.
William Roy Hodgson
In 1946 the UN established the Commission on human rights (see United Nations Human Rights Committee), and Colonel Hodgson made a significant contribution. Eleanor Roosevelt took on the role of chairing the Commission and took up the task of drafting the Universal Declaration of Human rights, with Hodgson being involved in this committee. He was particularly interested in the enforcement of human rights and pushed for an international tribunal for the filing of complaints. As an alternative, Hodgson proposed that the declaration be legally enforceable, which was not a priority for other members of the committee.