Historically the term human rights has been used to describe an array of values or capabilities thought to enhance human autonomy and protect human interests. The values and capabilities in question can range from basic needs such as food, shelter and health care to civil rights and political freedoms. The common observation is that people around the world require diverse values or capabilities in order to live with dignity and freedom and in a way that contributes to their communities and society. Inevitably, these requirements are frustrated by social and natural forces that result in the exploitation, oppression, persecution, and deprivation of individuals and groups of people.
While social progress over the centuries has removed many forms of deprivation, there is still much work to be done. During the first half of the twentieth century, the United Nations formulated and adopted an international legal instrument called the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The UDHR lays out a set of core human rights that should be universally recognized and respected. These are the core human rights: 1. The right to life, liberty and security of person 2. The right to equality and non-discrimination 3. The right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of the individual 4. The right to an effective remedy when these basic principles have been violated.
The UDHR and its defenders have made great efforts to ensure that the document is as broadly democratic and inclusive as possible. One of the most important aspects of this effort has been to include a wide range of political views in the drafting and discussion process. The drafting committee, for example, was comprised of representatives from countries with a range of political viewpoints, including those on the far left and right of the spectrum. In this way the UDHR can serve as a platform for all people, regardless of their ideological leanings.
Another fundamental aspect of the debate about human rights is how they should be justified or defended. Some have argued that they are simply moral demands, that they are inherently worthy of respect by all people. This view, which has roots in ancient philosophy and religion, is sometimes referred to as natural law theory or the rights of Man. Other supporters of this theory have been more agnostic or skeptical about the existence of universal moral demands and have looked for other ways to support the concept of human rights.
A third view of the origins of human rights holds that they are a product of societal evolution and development. This idea, which is closely related to the concept of natural law theory, suggests that, as societies develop and learn from experience they create rights and responsibilities that can be applied to their citizens and other members of their society. This approach to the concept of human rights relies heavily on the notion that there are reliable ways to find out what it is that humans may justifiably demand of each other and their governments.