“whereas member states have pledged themselves to achieve . . the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights . .” —preamble, universal declaration of human rights, 1948 9. the preamble to the universal declaration of human rights contains this section. what is the preamble's purpose?

Sets the mission statement--the preamble sets a mission statement or goal of the document and what it seeks to provide through the UN. 

The UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights focuses on the well-being of world citizens and the responsibility of countries to protect the rights of their people. This declaration has set guidelines for expected behavior of countries and continually revises their perspective on human rights issues.