Iwona Mikucka What are Human Rights and Why Do They Matter?

The history of the concept of human rightshuman rightshuman rights is quite long. Over the centuries and across religions, cultures and societies, people had to deal with defining ideas of rightfulnessrightfulnessrightfulness, justicejusticejustice, and rights. One of the most modern confirmationsconfirmations [confirmation]confirmations of universal human rights was the result of experiencing World War II. 2.1 ___

The main objective of the agreement established by the UN was to reaffirm faithreaffirm faithreaffirm faith in fundamental human rights. And in the same spirit, in 1948, the UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human RightsUniversal Declaration of Human RightsUniversal Declaration of Human Rights. This document was written by an international committee chaired bychaired by [be chaired by]chaired by Eleanor Roosevelt. 2.2 ___ The declaration is based on the principle that all human beings are born free and equalequalequal in dignitydignitydignity and rights. It consists ofconsists of [consist of]consists of 30 articles that deal withdeal withdeal with the right to non‑discriminationright to non‑discriminationright to non‑discrimination and the right to liberty. It not only refers torefers to [refer to]refers to negative freedoms, like the freedom from slaveryslaveryslavery, but also positive ones, such as freedom of having your possessions or freedom of movement. It refers to basic civil and political rights such as freedomfreedomfreedom of expressing your opinion, of religion, and of peaceful assemblypeaceful assemblypeaceful assembly. It also covers social and economic rights such as the right to choose one’s profession or to fair wages and treatment.The declaration does not define which rights are more important, emphasising their universalityuniversalityuniversality, indivisibilityindivisibilityindivisibility, and interdependenceinterdependenceinterdependence. And in the past decades, international human rights law has grown, deepening and expanding our understanding of human rights and how to protect them.

So if these principles are so well‑developed, then why are human rights constantly violated and ignored all over the world? The problem is that it is not easy to commonly enforceenforce rights [enforce a right]enforce these rightsenforce rights [enforce a right]rights or punish violators. This is simply because the UDHR is a declaration and not a law. That means it has almost no power to force states to change their policy or compensate a victimcompensate a victimcompensate a victim. 2.3 ___ Despite the obvious criticism, supporters appreciate the UDHR’s positive role in setting international standards and helping activists in their campaigns. Moreover, they also claim that not all human rights instruments are powerless. For instance, the European Convention on Human Rights established a court, where member countries along with their citizens can bring cases. 2.4 ___

Human rights law is constantly evolving in compliance within compliance within compliance with our views and definitions of basic human rights, which are based on the ideas of equality and guaranteed access to essential social and economic goods, services, and opportunities.  Undoubtedly, there is general agreement that some areas require further exploration and further attention from the international community. 

1 Źródło: Iwona Mikucka, licencja: CC BY-SA 3.0.