The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

The basic rights and freedoms to which all humans are entitled, often held to include the right to life and liberty, freedom of thought and expression, and equality before the law. Human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, whatever our nationality, place of residence, sex, color, religion, language, or any other status. We are all equally entitled to our human rights without discrimination. These rights are based on the principle of respect for the individual. Their fundamental assumption is that each person is a moral and rational being who deserves to be treated with dignity. They are called human rights because they are universal. Whereas nations or specialized groups enjoy specific rights that apply only to them, human rights are the rights to which everyone is entitled.

Human rights entail both rights and obligations. States assume obligations and duties under international law to respect, to protect and to fulfil human rights. The obligation to respect means that states must refrain from interfering with the enjoyment of human rights. The duty to protect requires states to protect individuals and groups against human rights abuses. This fulfillment means that states must take positive action to aid in the enjoyment of basic human rights. On the individual level, while we are entitled our human rights, we must also respect the human rights of others.

Brief History

On October 24, 1945, in the aftermath of WWII, the UN was an intergovernmental organization. They set out with the goal of preventing and trying to save future generations from the devastation of international conflict. The Charter of the United Nations established six principal bodies, including; the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Intern...

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... human rights within their own jurisdictions in one shape or another, the claim for a universal consensus on human rights is still a challenge and will continue to be. Those who try to impose their view on human rights on other societies fail to realize how diverse the world today is and how much culture and tradition have an impact on a country/states society and view. Cultural arrogance is not a means to developing an understanding between states. The challenge is to work towards the indigenization of human rights and the assertion within each country's traditions and history. Standards being internationally can only become reality when applied by countries within their own legal systems. Working unitedly in making decisions on the basis of what is best instead of following a single doctrine can encourage compromise to a worldwide mutual agreement of human rights.