Many people know something about human rights – they might have heard of the right to food or shelter, or the right to fair treatment in court. These rights are called ‘rights’ rather than ‘privileges’ because they are things everyone is entitled to, simply because they are human. They are fundamental to a dignified life and form the foundation of a just society.
In the context of the United Nations, human rights are universal in that they apply to all people on Earth irrespective of race, colour, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, language, religion or political or other opinion, national or social origin, or fortune. They are interdependent and interrelated, meaning that the fulfilment of one right often depends, wholly or partially, on the fulfilment of another. Taking away one right therefore has a negative impact on all of them.
Various declarations, principles and guidelines have refined what human rights are, how they should be promoted and protected, and who has responsibility for implementing them. Governments have a primary role, but the private sector and international financial institutions can also be involved if they decide to invest in countries with poor human rights records or lend money to those who violate their citizens’ rights.
There are a lot of issues on which people differ, even after agreeing that human rights are important. This is partly because of the fact that human rights are not a static ‘ideology’ and they are continually evolving, as new problems and challenges arise. For example, the practice of female genital mutilation is widely condemned worldwide despite some people defending it in the name of culture, while the death penalty continues to be practised.
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