Education

Education, teaching, mentoring, researching human rights

The Wrongs that Made Rights Possible: From Rights to Human Rights

HUQUQ Research Team Introduction to Human Rights, Education, Teaching Atrocities, Declarations, Treaties, UDHR 0

The concept of human rights has undergone a profound transformation over centuries, evolving from the notion of rights granted by royal decree and national constitutions to the declaration of universal rights most of which were eventually enshrined in international law in the form of treaties and conventions. This transition reflects both humanity’s growing understanding of inherent human dignity and the egregious abuse that forced human beings to aspire to do better. The journey from citizen or subject rights to universal human rights has been shaped by historical events, philosophical thought, and the need to address egregious atrocities that have occurred throughout human’s existence. Historically, rights were often tied to subjecthood or citizenship within a specific country or nation-state. In ancient civilizations, such as Greece and Rome, rights were granted to citizens but excluded slaves, women, and foreigners. Similarly, in feudal Europe, rights were hierarchical, with monarchs and nobility enjoying privileges denied to most of the population. From ancient royal decrees, like the one that produced the code of Hammurabi (1754 BCE) to the Magna Carta (1215 CE) and the English Bill of Rights (1689 CE) marked early steps toward limiting arbitrary power and recognizing certain rights, but these were still confined to specific groups within a kingdom or a country. Spurred by the abuses at the hands of the Crown and Cross, thinkers of the Western world educated themselves about the achievements of ancient civilizations during the Renaissance and began to emerge out of the Dark Ages. The Enlightenment era […]

Perspectives on Human Rights

HUQUQ Research Team Teaching, Education, Introduction to Human Rights, Teaching HUQUQ 0

The foundational idea of human rights is the notion of rights. When the very existence of a being is dependent on other things, such a being may claim that they have the right to these things. For instance, the human being is dependent on breathable air (oxygen), therefore, no power in the world should delay, limit, or enumerate access to air to any human being. This kind of proposition is so universal that it cuts across time and across cultures, and did not need to be made into a negotiated social contract of any jurisdiction. It is taken for granted that humans must share the air they breathe and no one, no matter how powerful they might be, can interfere with every individual’s right to breathe the air. The same can be said about access to drinkable water: every human being, regardless of ability and capacity, have an absolute right to water to the extent that throughout history, and all cultures, access to water was guaranteed even when such access infringed on claims other persons might claim like right over land that has the only spring or stream on which other people depend on for drinking water. However, even basic and logical claims of rights to air and water can be challenged under certain circumstances and that created a context for competing claims of rights. For example, what should be done if one person undertakes some activity within a space they claim to be theirs, in their farm or residence, for example, that […]

From Declaration to Binding Law

HUQUQ Research Team Introduction to Human Rights, Education, Teaching Declarations, Treaties 0

The Transformation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights into Treaties and Conventions The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 10, 1948, is a landmark document in the history of social rights. It was the first global expression of the inalienable rights to which all human beings are entitled. However, the UDHR is not a legally binding document; it is a declaration, a statement of principles and aspirations. To translate these principles into enforceable legal obligations, the international community embarked on a decades-long process of drafting and adopting treaties and conventions that codify the rights outlined in the UDHR. Here, we explore the processes that transformed the UDHR into binding international law and summarize the key treaties and conventions that emerged from this effort. Codification of the UDHR into Binding Instruments The UDHR served as the foundation for the development of international human rights law. Recognizing the need to create legally binding obligations, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (now the Human Rights Council) began drafting treaties that would translate the UDHR’s principles into specific legal frameworks. This process involved extensive negotiations among member states, balancing diverse cultural, political, and legal perspectives. The UDHR, along with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), came to be known in many circles as the International Bill of Human Rights. The two covenants, adopted in 1966 and entering into force […]