The concept of Human Rights

Human rights refers to the concept of human beings as

having universal rights or status, regardless of ethnicity, nationality, and

sex. As is evident in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human

Rights, human rights, at least in the post-war period, are conceptualized

as based on inherent human dignity, retaining their universal and inalienable

character. The doctrine of Human rights goes beyond law and forms a

fundamental moral basis for regulating the contemporary geo-political order.

It is related to democratic ideals.

The concept of human rights has existed under several names in European

thought for many centuries, at least since the time of King John of England.

After the king violated a number of ancient laws and customs by

which England had been governed, his subjects forced him to sign the

Magna Carta, or Great Charter which enumerates a number of what later

came to be thought of as human rights. Among them were the right of the

church to be free from governmental interference, the rights of all free

citizens to own and inherit property and be free from excessive taxes.

In 1789 the people of France overthrew their monarchy and established

the first French Republic. Out of the revolution came the "Declaration of

the Rights of Man."

‘Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous

acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent

of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and

belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest

aspiration of the common people,

Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as

a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human

rights should be protected by the rule of law...’

In Universal Declaration of Human Rights