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Unit 30: Brief Historical Background of Human Rights with Special Reference ...

and 20th centuries. The third generation of human rights, solidarity rights, have existed since Notes
the mid-1980s. They are contingent on international cooperation and aim at the formation of a
community.
30.1.4 Human Rights Important
Adopted by the General Assembly on December 10, 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights (UDHR) is one of the first major achievements of the United Nations. The United States
is a charter member of the United Nations and the U.S. Representative to the U.N., Eleanor
Roosevelt, was a lead drafter of the UDHR.
The author States of Declaration, from different regions of the world, sought to ensure that the
text would incorporate values common to all communities.
The States affirmed the universal respect for inalienable rights and fundamental freedoms of
each and every person, including the principles of the prohibition against arbitrary detention,
the right to due process and other civil and political rights as well as social, cultural and
economic rights.
Significant development in thinking about human rights had already taken place in the
seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
These fundamental human rights should be "a common standard of achievement for all peoples
and nations" - UDHR Preamble. They are the basic rights that all human beings should enjoy,
respect and protect.
The UDHR, together with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), its
two Optional Protocols, and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
(ICESCR), form what is known as International Bill of Human Rights.
International human rights law lays down obligations which States are bound to respect. By
becoming parties to international treaties, States assume obligations and duties under
international law to respect, to protect and to fulfill human rights.
The obligation to respect means that States must refrain from interfering with or curtailing the
enjoyment of human rights.
The obligation to protect requires States to protect individuals and groups against human
rights abuses.
The obligation to fulfill means that States must take positive action to facilitate the enjoyment
of basic human rights.
Through ratification of international human rights treaties, Governments undertake to put into
place domestic measures and legislation compatible with their treaty obligations and duties.
Universal human rights should be applied to all persons without distinction of any kind: we
are all human beings, so we are all entitled to enjoy these rights.
Remember that, as Eleanor Roosevelt said, "the destiny of human rights is in the hands of all
our citizens in all our communities."

What is the meaning of three terms (i) respect (ii) protect (iii) fulfilled under the
universal declaration of human rights?

Self Assessment
1. Multiple choice questions: Choose the correct option:
(i) The universal declaration of human right is a document which was drafted by the .......
(a) United Nations (b) General Assembly
(c) European Union (d) Saarc Nations

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