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The story of Bodil Begtrup
The Danish diplomat Bodil Begtrup is to be celebrated with two permanent busts, one at the UN Headquarters in Geneva and one in Copenhagen, for her lifelong work for human rights and as a pioneering Danish diplomat.
The busts will honor Bodil Begtrup’s legacy as a key contributor to the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Begtrup had significant impact on the wording of the declaration, ensuring that it included the rights of women as well as men.
In addition to the two busts, there will be educational material and a short documentary telling Begtrups story, in hope of inspiring future generations to champion equality and human rights.
Visitors in Geneva and Copenhagen can enjoy the busts and her life and achievements can be explored through a dedicated website and film.
Frececo Fonden fully funds the project, produced by THE WHY Foundation, which is expected to be completed in spring 2026.
At Palais de Chaillot, Mrs. Bodil Begtrup, Vice Chairman of the Third Committee of the Assembly, addresses a plenary meeting prior to the adoption of the Declaration of Human Rights. Credit: UN Photo/MB
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Eleanor Roosevelt holding a poster of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, New York. November 1949. Credit: FDR Presidential Library & Museum
Ensuring rights for men and women
In 1948 Bodil Begtrup served as the deputy of the committee assigned to draft the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. She objected to the first draft of the declaration because it only spoke of the rights of men. After going through the the declaration word for word she successfully ensured that the language was changed to either be gender neutral or to include women. Begtrup is the reason the preamble to the declaration says equal rights of men and women, and not just equal rights of men.
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