What is the American Declaration on Human Rights?

The American Declaration on the Rights and Duties of Man is a regional human rights instrument adopted by the Organization of American States (OAS) in 1948. It was the first international human rights instrument to be adopted in the Americas and served as a precursor to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations later that year. The Declaration outlines a set of rights and freedoms that all individuals in the Americas are entitled to, including the right to life, liberty, and security of person, the right to freedom of thought and expression, and the right to work and education.