Exploring Jacques Maritain’s role in the drafting process of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: A review of his presence in Charles Malik’s archival materials

Abstract

Both the concept of human rights in Jacques Maritain and his the role in the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in 1948 continue to generate significant interest among scholars and researchers. This interest is driven by a desire to understand the foundations of human rights in a multicultural context as well as the influence of the French philosopher on the composition of the UDHR. Charles Malik, a Lebanese philosopher and diplomat, was a nuclear drafter of the UDHR. An extensive archive of Malik’s papers is preserved at the Library of Congress, including large sections from his university years and his tenure as Lebanon’s ambassador to the United Nations. In order to provide original sources, this article presents Charles Malik’s references to the person and thought of Jacques Maritain, which will serve as a valuable resource for future researchers seeking to explain and clarify Maritain’s role and ideas in the drafting of the UDHR.