Many people may have a different definition of human rights but the fundamental belief is that all individuals are born free and equal in dignity and worth. It is this fundamental belief that makes human rights a universal ideal that receives support from every culture, civilised government and religion in the world. Human rights are the cornerstone of international relations and legal frameworks and they are a focus for non-governmental organisations, global movements and national bodies that are dedicated to monitoring and enforcing human rights standards worldwide.
The notion that people have inherent rights dates back to ancient times and human societies have always had ideals and systems of ensuring justice for all members of society. They can be found in religious texts, philosophical traditions and in laws governing society. The idea that people have inalienable rights is a response to the universal human need for freedom, security and justice.
A key aspect of human rights is the principle that everyone must be held accountable for their actions and inactions. This includes the right to justice and fair treatment, which is essential for a stable society and the rule of law. If someone is not held to account for a human rights violation, they are likely to be encouraged to commit similar violations in the future and to continue to violate other people’s rights. Accountability can be achieved through monitoring and reporting, investigation and prosecution of cases of human rights violations, review and reform of laws contributing to violations as well as technical cooperation with States to prevent and detect human rights violations.
In a democratic system, the people are the source of political power and legitimacy and they must be at the centre of decision-making. However, this principle is often abused and the result can be that political institutions are overshadowed by powerful interests and a lack of trust in government is created. To protect against this, a strong separation of the executive and legislative branches of government is necessary as are clear rules about transparency and accountability.
As a result of this, the role of non-state actors like businesses has become increasingly important in the realm of human rights. The human rights impact of business can be positive or negative depending on whether they have a good reputation for following human rights principles and having robust internal policies for dealing with grievances, complaints and conflicts. It is also important that they have mechanisms to resolve any problems or disputes with the State where these are alleged to have occurred.
Those with the most economic, technological and military power can also have an adverse impact on other countries’ human rights records through ‘cultural imperialism’. This is where the economically, technologically and militarily strongest countries impose their values, norms, cultures and institutions on other States. This can take the form of ‘soft’ imperialism where cultural values are imposed but not the use of force. It can also be more overt where the dominant power imposes its values and policies on others through military or colonial intervention.