The word human rights means things to which all people are entitled just by being born – freedoms that we are automatically granted. They include the right to life and the right to liberty – the ability to live freely and without fear. Other rights include the right to education, the right to a fair trial and the right to property – the ability to own or rent a home and not be deprived of it.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), adopted in 1948, is the first worldwide statement of human rights. It sets out a series of basic standards, such as the right to equality and dignity, which should be respected and protected by all Governments. The UDHR, together with two Optional Protocols on the complaints procedure and on the death penalty, form the International Bill of Human Rights.
Many of these rights are not just important but essential to a decent and fulfilling life. For this reason, it is not surprising that there are often arguments and disagreements about them. This is a sign both of the complexity of these issues and the fact that human rights are not a fixed set of ideas but are an evolving area of moral and legal thought.
Nevertheless, there is much agreement about the fundamentals of human rights. This is evident from the progress that has been made, even if it sometimes seems like a drop in the ocean compared with the terrible atrocities committed in World War II and earlier, and from the fact that there is now legislation in most countries around the world requiring governments to respect the human rights of their citizens.
There are still huge problems, of course, and these remain the focus of human rights work. Many of these problems are rooted in deep and complex social and economic factors, but there has been considerable progress. The abolition of slavery, the vote for women, the elimination of the death penalty in many countries, the collapse of apartheid, and the growing recognition that it is wrong to torture prisoners are just some examples of this.
One of the most important aspects of human rights is that they are interdependent and inalienable – they cannot be taken away or withdrawn from anyone. They are also indivisible, and all rights are equal in importance. They may be civil, political, economic, social or cultural in nature but are all inherent to the dignity of every person.
People must remember that, alongside their rights, they have responsibilities and duties towards other individuals and the community. It is not just their moral duty to not violate the personal dignity of others but, for example, if they use their right to free speech in a way that interferes with other people’s enjoyment of their rights. Governments have a particular responsibility to respect human rights, and they must ensure that they provide laws and services which enable people to enjoy their rights.