Human right

Human rights are a set of principles concerned with equality and fairness. They are not a recent invention – ideas about rights and responsibilities have been an important part of all societies throughout history. However, what we now regard as human rights have only come into existence since the second half of the 20th century.

Definition

Human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, regardless of race, sex, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, or any other status. They include the right to life and liberty, freedom from slavery and torture, freedom of opinion and expression, the right to work and education, and many more. Everyone is entitled to these rights, without discrimination.

Historical Development

The concept of human rights has evolved over time. The Magna Carta (1215), the English Bill of Rights (1689), the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (1789), and the United States Bill of Rights (1791) are some of the early documents that contributed to the development of human rights.

The modern human rights movement was significantly shaped by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948. The UDHR was the first international document to articulate the rights and freedoms to which all human beings are entitled.

Categories of Human Rights

Human rights can be categorized into several types:

• Civil and Political Rights: These include the right to free speech, the right to a fair trial, the right to vote, and the right to privacy.
• Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights: These include the right to education, the right to work, the right to health, and the right to an adequate standard of living.
• Collective Rights: These include the right to development, the right to a healthy environment, and the right to peace.

International Human Rights Law

International human rights law lays down obligations which States are bound to respect. By becoming parties to international treaties, States assume obligations and duties under international law to respect, to protect and to fulfill human rights.

The core international human rights instruments include:

• International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)
• International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)
• Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)
• Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)

Challenges to Human Rights

Despite the progress made, human rights violations are still widespread. Challenges include:

• Discrimination based on race, gender, and other factors
• Political repression and lack of freedom of expression
• Poverty and lack of access to basic needs
• Armed conflict and terrorism

Also see

• Universal Declaration of Human Rights
• International human rights law
• Civil rights
• Social justice
• Equality before the law

References

• Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
• Amnesty International
• Human Rights Watch