The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was drafted in 1948 and it is one of the most important documents on international law. It defines the fundamental standards of human dignity and equality. It also establishes a series of legal and political processes to ensure those rights are upheld. These principles are intended to provide everyone with a basic level of security in order to achieve the full enjoyment of their civil, political, economic and social rights.
Most people know that they have some rights – such as the right to live, to work and to be free of slavery and involuntary servitude. These are known as “civil rights”. But there are many more rights which are equally important, and they are referred to as “human rights”. Human rights are things to which you are entitled simply by being a member of the Homo sapiens species. They are called rights rather than privileges because they can’t be taken away at someone else’s whim.
All humans are born equal, regardless of their age, sex, colour, language, religion or political or other opinion, national or social origin, disability, property or birth status. These fundamental principles have formed the basis of international human rights legislation and are reflected in numerous national constitutions, laws and conventions.
Human rights are intrinsically connected to each other and cannot be viewed in isolation from one another. They are also indivisible, which means that no individual right is more important than any other. For example, the right to life is not dependent on any other right but it is a necessary condition for the enjoyment of the right to freedom of expression.
Throughout history, all cultures and traditions have held ideals and systems of justice which can be described as human rights. Some have been developed and articulated in written form while others may be lost or forgotten over time. The teachings of Confucius (c. 500 bce) for example, emphasise compassion and the need to help others.
In practice, however, human rights are often not upheld. For instance, in most countries around the world, there are still a large number of people who are stateless and as a result lack a secure base for economic or family life. The rights of women, children and disabled persons are particularly neglected. In addition, practices such as female genital mutilation and child, early or forced marriage, which are defended by some in the name of culture, are widely condemned.
Governments that adopt a policy of transactional diplomacy, where they sacrifice human rights principles to gain immediate short-term trading or security advantages, are perpetuating injustice. This is because the moral foundation of human rights demands consistency and steadfastness. Human rights must always be promoted from below, through the efforts of families and communities and with the support of local organizations. This is the only way to achieve sustainable human rights protection and advance. Without this, progress will remain sluggish and the rights of individuals and the global community as a whole will be jeopardised.