Universal Human Rights month

Did you know the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is the most translated document in the world? It has been translated into more than 500 languages. Eleanor Roosevelt liked to say that documents conveying ideals "carry no weight unless the people know them unless the people understand them unless the people demand that they be lived." (Coker)

Quote by Nelson Mandela; Image Source: twitter

December is a month of mixed feelings. It's a month of gloomy weather, hot chocolates, holidays, festivals, year-end melancholy that culminates in the hope of new beginnings. But it isn't all. Other less well-known events in December include Universal Human Rights Month. To understand this, lets dive into the significance of Human rights and what they imply for us.

The premise behind human rights is that everyone, no matter who they are or where they are born, has the same basic rights and freedoms. Human rights cannot be conferred or taken away since they are not privileges. They are ubiquitous and unalienable. That might seem simple enough, but the moment someone tries to put the concept into practice, it becomes exceedingly difficult. What are the fundamental human rights, exactly? Who gets to pick them? Who enforces them, and how?

The history behind the concept of human rights is a long one. Throughout the centuries and across societies, religions, and cultures we have struggled with defining the notion of rightfulness, justice, and rights. But one of the most modern affirmation of universal human rights emerged from the ruins of World War II with the creation of the United Nations. The treaty that established the UN states that one of its purposes is to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights. And with the same spirit, in 1948, the UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This document, written by an international committee chaired by Eleanor Roosevelt, lays the basis for modern international human rights law. The declaration is based on the principle that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. It lists 30 articles recognizing, among other things, the principle of non-discrimination and the right to life and liberty. It refers to negative freedoms, like the freedom from torture or slavery, as well as positive freedoms, such as the freedom of movement and residence. It encompasses basic civil and political rights, such as freedom of expression, religion, or peaceful assembly, as well as social, economic, and cultural rights, such as the right to education and the right to freely choose one's occupation and be paid and treated fairly. The declaration takes no sides as to which rights are more important, insisting on their universality, indivisibility, and interdependence. And in the past decades, international human rights law has grown, deepening and expanding our understanding of what human rights are, and how to better protect them.

So, if these principles are so well-developed, then why are human rights abused and ignored time and time again all over the world?

The problem in general is that it is not at all easy to universally enforce these rights or to punish transgressors. The UDHR itself, despite being highly authoritative and respected, is a declaration, not a hard law. So, when individual countries violate it, the mechanisms to address those violations are weak. For example, the main bodies within the UN, in charge of protecting human rights, mostly monitor and investigate violations, but they cannot force states to, say, change a policy or compensate a victim. That's why some critics say it's naïve to consider human rights a given in a world where state interests wield so much power. Critics also question the universality of human rights and emphasize that their development has been heavily guided by a small number of mostly Western nations to the detriment of inclusiveness.

The result?

A general bias in favor of civil-political liberties over socio-political rights, and of an individual’s rights over collective or group’s rights. Others defend universal human rights laws and point to the positive role they have in setting international standards and helping activists in their campaigns. They also point out that not all international human rights instruments are powerless.

For example, the European Convention on Human Rights establishes a court where the 47 member countries and their citizens can bring cases. The court issues binding decisions that each member state must comply with.

Human rights law, like our perspectives and notions of what basic human rights should be, is always evolving. For example, how basic or important is the right to democracy or development? And as our lives are increasingly digital, should there be a right to access the Internet? A right to digital privacy?

What do you think?

**References**

Coker, Kathryn. “NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS MONTH.” Richmond Public Library, 6 Dec. 2021, rvalibrary.org/shelf-respect/law-library/national-human-rights-month.

Glendon, Mary Ann. A world made new: Eleanor Roosevelt and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. United Kingdom, Random House Publishing Group, 2001.

“Human Rights Day 2020.” International Justice Resource Center, 10 Dec. 2020, ijrcenter.org/2020/12/10/human-rights-day-2020.

Hunt, Lynn. Inventing Human Rights: A History. United States, W. W. Norton, 2008.

Steiner, Henry J. and Philip Alston. “International Human Rights in Context: Law, Politics, Morals: Text and Materials.” (1996).