History of Human Rights An Introduction

 the notion that a human being has a set of incontrovertible rights simply on grounds of being human A Basic Definition:

 America’s Declaration of Independence  grants that “All men are created equal”  France’s Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen  grants rights to French citizens and to all men without exception In the 1700s:

 Foundation of the International Red Cross  organization that can help during war time without threat of attack  Lieber Code  written by Abraham Lincoln to dictate how soldiers should behave on the battlefield In the 1800s

 League of Nations  “the primary goal of the ILO today is to promote opportunities for women and men to obtain decent and productive work, in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity” After World War 1

 Geneva Convention  safeguard the human rights of individuals involved in conflict  Universal Declaration of Human Rights  recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable (non-removable) rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world After World War 2

 Adopted in 1948  Has 30 articles (or sections) Universal Declaration of Human Rights