The belief that everyone, by virtue of being part of the human race, is entitled to certain rights, such as the right to live and not be tortured, the right to freedom of expression, the right not to be subjected to slavery or forced labour, etc. These are the principles that are embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) adopted on 10 December 1948, which is recognised as International Human Rights Day. The UDHR was an immediate response to the barbarities of World War II, and its adoption gave rise to the concept of human rights as something that should be universally understood and agreed upon by all states.
Two ideas are central to the idea of human rights – equality and dignity. It is believed that all human beings are equal in the sense that they have a basic standard of living, that people should not be treated in a way that demeans their inherent dignity or detracts from their human rights, and that the state must limit its power to ensure that these minimum requirements are met. This belief underpins every culture in the world and is endorsed by all civilised governments and religions.
Human rights treaties have been developed to define the scope of these fundamental rights. Many of these treaties are multilateral agreements based on mutual obligations between states, rather than obligations being owed directly to individuals. International organisations have been established to monitor compliance with these treaties, and to help in the formulation of guidelines and standards. Corporations have also been urged to avoid complicity in human rights abuses. Government officials who understand the human rights framework can effect great change for the better, as many of our most famous presidents have done, including Abraham Lincoln, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Lyndon B. Johnson and Jimmy Carter. Similarly, such leaders as Nelson Mandela and Václav Havel have helped to bring about significant change in their countries.
The human rights movement has a long history, but it is not universally embraced by the majority of countries. In parts of the world, there is a growing sense that the principles are outdated and should be abandoned. This view is reflected in a number of events, for example, the rise of political authoritarianism in Russia, Turkey and Venezuela; continued oppression of women in much of the Islamic world; backlashes against LGBT people in many states; and continuing economic development under a model rooted in state control and social repression.
In the workplace, there is often a view that an employee’s complaints of discrimination based on their race or disability are tantamount to blackmail, or that paying any compensation to an employee would open the “floodgates” to a stream of human rights claims that have no merit. This position is wrong. It is in the best interests of all parties, and especially the employer, to deal with human rights claims early and effectively. This can be achieved by a thorough and robust investigation, and by adopting policies and procedures that will prevent recurrence.