The human rights we have today were drafted and agreed upon by people of all backgrounds, beliefs and cultures, across the globe. They are the cornerstones of a world that is built on freedom, justice and peace.
The most basic idea behind human rights is that all people, in their fundamental humanity, are equal and deserve to be treated equally. To deny this equality is to deprive the person of their dignity and worth. It is for this reason that the concept of human rights is universal – it recognises the importance of treating all people, regardless of their status in life or the circumstances surrounding their birth.
In practical terms, human rights set out the minimum standards that a country, or the international community, should aim to uphold. These include the right to live and to be free of arbitrary punishment or deprivation, such as torture or capital punishment. It also includes the right to access healthcare, education and other social services. It is important to note that the rights listed above are not exclusive – they may overlap and interact with one another, for example, a person’s right to liberty might conflict with their right to privacy.
There is a strong basis for human rights in ancient philosophy and religion, most notably in the teachings of Confucius (c 500 bce), who advocated the idea of ‘respecting others as you would like to be respected’. In fact, many scholars believe that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights drew heavily on the teachings of this ancient Chinese philosopher.
As a direct response to the terrible atrocities of World War II, the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on 10 December 1948, pledging to create a world where everyone is guaranteed the rights outlined in the document.
Article 1 of the UDHR states that all people are born free and equal in dignity and rights. The document goes on to state that there should be no distinction of any kind made against a person, on the grounds of race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property or birth. This is a fundamental principle that underpins every other right in the Declaration.
It is important to remember that human rights are a two-way street: each person has a responsibility to respect the rights of other people, while at the same time governments must respect the rights of their citizens. This is why it is so important for citizens to be active and engaged in the struggle for human rights, by signing petitions, writing letters and attending protests.
As human rights evolve, they can become more or less accepted based on what the broader community agrees to be right and wrong. For example, it was once widely tolerated for countries to have slaves, but now slavery is internationally condemned as a violation of human rights. Likewise, female genital mutilation is increasingly being recognised as a violation of the right to privacy and the right to dignity.