Why do all matriculating students pledge to uphold the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted at the third United Nations General Assembly on December 10, 1948. This was four and half years before ICU was dedicated.

ICU's first president Hachiro Yuasa and other founders of ICU were deeply moved by the Declaration, and they committed ICU to the cultivation of internationally minded citizens capable of transforming Japan into a country open to the world and contributing to peace for all humanity.

In order to share this commitment across the entire ICU student body, ever since the inaugural matriculation ceremony in 1953 all new students have added their signature to a pledge stating that they will uphold the principles of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights.

More than 60 years after the university's founding, this tradition remains a vibrant and fundamental part of the university and its student body.