History of human rights

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History of human rights (easy version)

Human rights are the basic freedoms and protections every person deserves simply because they are human. These include the right to life, liberty, dignity, equality, and freedom of thought, religion, and expression, plus rights to health, education, and safety. Modern ideas about human rights grew from many traditions, but the most influential changes happened in Europe and around the world after World War II. Here’s a simple timeline.

- Ancient and early ideas
- Early codes in Mesopotamia and other ancient societies included rules about justice and some protections for people.
- The Cyrus Cylinder (c. 6th century BCE) is seen by some as an early step toward religious tolerance and freedom of worship.
- Ashoka in India promoted nonviolence, humane treatment of people and animals, and religious tolerance.
- In Rome, ideas of natural law and jus gentium helped lay groundwork for later rights.

- Africa and Europe before modern times
- Ancient Egypt had protections for basic rights.
- The Law of Adomnán (Ireland, 697) and other medieval laws showed care for noncombatants and women.
- The Mali Empire’s Kouroukan Fouga (13th century) included rights to life and protections for women.
- In Europe, the Magna Carta (1215) limited rulers’ power and established due process, influencing later rights documents.

- The rise of modern rights
- Enlightenment thinkers like John Locke argued that people have natural rights that aren’t granted by governments.
- The English Bill of Rights (1689) protected basic liberties.
- The American and French revolutions (late 1700s) argued that rights are universal, not tied to one nation. The US Declaration of Independence and the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen proclaimed these ideas for everyone.

- 19th century to World War I
- Movements for abolition, workers’ rights, and women’s suffrage expanded rights for more people.
- Thinkers and writers helped popularize the idea that rights are universal and should be protected by law.

- Between the world wars and after World War II
- The League of Nations and later the United Nations worked to promote peace and human rights.
- The Geneva Conventions began to form the rules of humane treatment in war.

- Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and beyond
- In 1948, the UDHR declared a common standard of fundamental rights for all people, covering civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights.
- The UDHR was followed by binding regional and national laws, such as the European Convention on Human Rights (1950) and the UK’s Human Rights Act (1998).

- Late 20th century to today
- The Helsinki Accords (1975) advanced human rights commitments globally.
- Movements for civil rights, women’s rights, and minority rights broadened who is protected and how rights are realized.
- Some scholars and activists talk about three generations of rights: civil and political rights (freedom, participation), economic, social and cultural rights (work, health, education), and solidarity rights (peace, environment). Others push for new, digital and environmental rights in the 21st century.
- There is ongoing debate about how best to protect rights in a digital age, with ideas like data privacy and digital self-determination gaining attention.

In short, the idea of human rights has grown from ancient concepts of justice to a modern, global framework that keeps evolving to meet new challenges. Rights are seen as universal and indivisible, but how they are protected and practiced has changed across time and cultures.