Human rights are a fundamental part of every individual’s identity and are intrinsically linked to the concept of dignity. Having a good understanding of human rights is essential to prevent the abuse of these fundamental freedoms by individuals, governments or organisations.
Human rights have their roots in many cultures and traditions across the world. They are not a recent invention and have been the result of people’s ongoing search for justice, fairness and equality.
The atrocities and massive loss of life that occurred during World War II galvanised global opinion and led to the emergence of the body of international law we know as human rights. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was adopted in 1948 and is a globally agreed statement of thirty rights to which all people are entitled.
A key principle of the UDHR is that human rights are inalienable and universal. This means that no one can voluntarily give up their rights and they cannot be taken away by others. The UDHR also reminds us that human rights are indivisible; they can be civil, cultural, economic, political or social in nature but, whatever their nature, all human rights are fundamental to the dignity of every person. The realization of one right is often dependent, wholly or in part, upon the realization of other rights and no single right can be regarded as more important than another.
Despite their importance, there are many obstacles to the realisation of human rights. Governments, political parties or candidates, employers and some civil society players may use the language of human rights without actually being committed to the objectives of these standards. This is sometimes due to ignorance, at other times it is deliberate.
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