Every person, everywhere in the world, has a right to certain fundamental things. These rights are not privileges, which can be taken away by someone else; they are a part of our humanity and rooted in our inherent dignity. People also have a responsibility to protect those rights. When we fail to uphold these principles, we see violations of human rights: repression, poverty, abuse and violence.
These violations occur across the globe, and we are often shocked by the news. Yet it is crucial to remember that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the international human rights treaties it inspired are more than noble aspirations – they are legal obligations, binding under international law. In fact, many countries have incorporated the human rights treaties into their national laws. This means that individuals can file a human rights complaint against a government or other duty-bearer in a domestic court and have it heard by an impartial judge.
Several theories have been advanced to explain why and how human rights become part of our social expectations. Some posit that human rights codify moral behaviour, stemming from different philosophical or religious sources. Others claim that they are a product of the evolution of society (as advocated by the 19th century school of thought known as legal positivism).
Regardless of where they are rooted, all human rights are universal and inalienable. Whether a human rights violation is the result of war, poverty or discrimination, it must be addressed with collective action. And that is why the international community must stand firm against attempts to erode the independent checks on power such as nongovernmental organisations and media that can act as watchdogs for human rights.
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