People are born with certain fundamental rights – they’re called human rights because they can’t be taken away. These rights are a basic part of what it is to be human, and they help us get along with each other, stay safe and make progress. Most people know about a few of their rights, such as the right to food or a safe place to live. Many people also know that their government is supposed to protect them from those who would harm them, or at least treat them fairly.
However, governments don’t always respect these basic rights. When they violate them, the consequences can be devastating. Human rights violations are a major driver of conflict and instability. The Pathways for Peace study by the UN and World Bank shows that countries whose governments regularly disregard human rights see more violent conflict. And when governments choose to enforce their human rights obligations selectively — choosing what is important for them in the short term over what’s important for everyone — they perpetuate injustice and can embolden abusers to extend their reach.
The human rights movement seeks to promote and protect these basic universal principles by creating a framework for international law, enforceable by the international community. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was drafted in 1946, with a wide variety of states taking part. It was the first time that a globally agreed document marked out all people as being equal in the eyes of the world.