The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states: “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” These fundamental, indivisible rights are inherent in every person. No one can voluntarily give them up, nor can they be taken away from any person by others. People have the right to defend their rights through the courts or by other legitimate means. Human rights must be defended equally by all countries, regardless of their political or economic system or their religious or cultural background.
The modern concept of human rights gained traction after World War II and was shaped in response to the atrocities of the Holocaust. It led to the adoption of a universal framework of human rights by the UN General Assembly in 1948, as well as numerous international treaties and national laws.
Many people think that human rights are a Western construct. This is partly true. It is also true that many people from the developing world are skeptical of human rights as a foreign policy instrument that can be wielded by Western powers to advance their own interests. This has often created tensions between the United States and the rest of the world, especially in the areas of foreign aid and military interventions.
In the past, most governments believed that they could manage their own domestic affairs without regard to human rights. But the widespread human rights violations of the twentieth century caused major shifts in global public opinion and shifted the focus from states’ sovereignty to their responsibility for protecting their own citizens. Governments that fail to fulfil their obligations in this area sow the seeds of discontent, instability, and crisis. They also undermine their own legitimacy, reinforcing the belief that corruption, censorship, impunity and violence are the best tools for achieving power and wealth.
Governments that deny human rights have a huge impact on the lives of people throughout the world. The most egregious of these regimes have often been able to maintain their grip on power for decades, with a few exceptions. This is because they are able to manipulate international perceptions and deflect criticism by playing the “human rights card” with Western allies.
It is important for the international community to stand up for human rights and to hold governments accountable when they do not honour their commitments. This is the job of the UN Human Rights Council and its special procedures. But it is also a responsibility of individuals, the media and civil society organisations.
It is also essential to support the work of human rights defenders in countries where they are under threat. This includes providing funding for independent local human rights organisations and supporting their capacity to investigate, document, and report on abuses. It is also crucial to ensure that people’s voices are heard, and to challenge governments when they ignore their own citizens. Our country pages and thematic pages provide data, visualizations, and writing on how people’s human rights are protected around the world.