Human rights are fundamental principles or norms that establish standards for behaviour and which are recognised as belonging to all people, simply because they are human. They include such things as the right to life, freedom of expression and protection against enslavement.
The concept of human rights gained worldwide recognition in the wake of World War II. The victorious powers set up a new organisation, the United Nations (UN), with a specific emphasis on human rights, believing that protecting them would help build a world built on freedom and justice.
Almost all governments now recognise human rights through their international treaties and national laws. Some go further, and incorporate them into their institutions, constitutions or laws, such as the US Declaration of Independence, which states that “all men are created equal, and are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable Rights, among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
A key aspect of human rights is the notion that they are interlinked: people can’t enjoy their own rights if others don’t respect those rights. This is why governments, NGOs and businesses need to educate people about human rights and what they mean in practice.
Several theories have been advanced on how and why human rights become part of social expectations. Some argue that they codify moral behavior which has developed through a process of biological and social evolution (associated with natural law). Others, such as David Hume, argue that human rights are a pattern of rule setting and not an intrinsic product of human nature.
About the Author
