John Peters Humphrey

Canadian lawyer

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June 29, 2026

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John Peters Humphrey was a Canadian lawyer who played a crucial role in drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). While French jurist René Cassin was initially credited, it is now recognized that Humphrey authored the first draft of this foundational document in international human rights law.1

The UDHR was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 10, 1948, as a response to the widespread human rights abuses during World War II. It outlines 30 articles detailing civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights, emphasizing the inherent dignity and equality of all people. Humphrey's contribution was vital in creating an inclusive initial draft, and the UDHR continues to be a cornerstone for global human rights discourse.12

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Universal Declaration of Human Rights
…claim ownership of this document, John Humphrey, a Canadian professor of law and the UN Secretariat’s Human Rights Director, authored its first draft. Also instrumental in the drafting of the UDHR were Roosevelt; Chang Peng-chun, a Chinese playwright, philosopher, and diplomat; and Charles Habib Malik, a Lebanese philosopher and diplomat.
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…claim ownership of this document, John Humphrey, a Canadian professor of law and the UN Secretariat’s Human Rights Director, authored its first draft. Also instrumental in the drafting of the UDHR were Roosevelt; Chang Peng-chun, a Chinese playwright, philosopher, and diplomat; and Charles Habib Malik, a Lebanese philosopher and diplomat.
Read More