The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is best described as which of the following?

• A. An instrument establishing binding civil and political rights for states
• B. A treaty primarily focused on economic, social and cultural rights
• C. 30 articles serving as the authority document on human rights
• D. A list of universal moral norms

Answer: (C)

The UDHR is a foundational normative instrument issued as a declaration that lays out a comprehensive set of universal rights in 30 articles. It isn't binding law on states by itself, but it provides the authoritative framework that informs and underpins later binding treaties. That combination—30 clearly outlined rights and its role as the authoritative reference for human rights—makes it best described as a 30-article document serving as the authority on human rights. The other descriptions miss this mix: it’s not a binding treaty in itself, it covers more than just economic, social and cultural rights (it includes civil and political rights too), and it isn’t merely a list of universal moral norms without codified rights.