Human rights have deep and long historical heritage. This concept is evolving throughout human history.
History of Human rights includes cultural, religious, legal and philosophical progress throughout recorded history. Human rights eventually became synonyms with natural rights, rights that emerge from natural law. This concept of natural rights were also believed in ancient Rome, where the Roman jurist Ulpian was the firm believer of natural rights and he believed that natural rights belonged to everyone whether they were a Roman or not. There can be a line drawn between Human rights of the past and Human rights of today. For example, in the past it was very natural to keep slaves and such a practice goes contradictory to the rights of equality and freedom that we talk about today.
Throughout the ages, there were various sets of laws issued in Mesopotamia, including the Code of Hammurabi (1780 BC). The Code of Hammurabi is one of the significant example depicting rules, and punishments inflicted if those rules are broken, various aspects including child rights, woman’s rights, men’s rights and slavery rights.
Ancient sources such as the Vedas, the Bible and the Quran specify people’s rights and duties. The Maurya Empire of ancient India has witnessed nonviolence (ahimsa) and equality during the reign of Ashoka the Great. Ashoka constructed free hospitals for both humans and animals and he treated his subjects as equals regardless of their caste or religion. An edict of Ashoka signifies obedience to parents, respect for priests and teachers, humane treatment of servants, non-violence and tolerance. During the Maurya period, people of all religions, race and ethnic background had rights to equality and freedom. Ashoka also opposed the capture of prisoners of war.
Different reforms in human rights took place under Islam between 610 and 661 including period of Muhammad’s reign. At the time Islam began, the condition of women were horrible- they were supposed to be the property of the man, they had no right to own property and no prominent identity in the society. Muhammad granted certain basic safeguards to women by establishing rights of education, inheritance, property ownership and divorce for them.
The Constitution of Medina was drafted by Muhammad in 622. This document was drafted with an intention of putting ends to the bitter inter tribal fighting between the clans of the Aws (Aus) and Khazraj within Medina. The Constitution instituted freedom of religion, security of community, healthy tribal relation within Medina, a tax system helpful for the community at times of conflict, a system for providing protection of individuals and a legal system for resolving disputes. Thus, Muhammad brought a profound change in the fundamentals of human rights. Under Islamic period, there was prohibition of female infanticide which led to recognized and improved status of Arab women.
In the 19th century, issue of slavery made the Human rights a major concern. An enormous number of reformers such as William Wilberforce in Britain strived for gaining abolition of slavery. The middle and late 19th centuries witnessed harsh conditions such as brutal work conditions, child labor, slavery, starvation wages etc.
Many human rights movement and groups struggled to hold a grip over these harsh conditions and eventually succeeded. Women Right Movement succeeded in acquiring for many women the right to vote. Labor Unions brought laws establishing minimum work conditions, barring child labor, granting safe working conditions to labor and establishing a 40 hour week in many European countries and US.
The League of Nations was established in 1919 embedded with goals such as settling disputes between countries through negotiation, disarmament, preventing war through collective security and enhancing global welfare. International Labor Organization aims to promote productive and decent work conditions for men and women. It also promotes rights of freedom, security, equity and human dignity. The Geneva Conventions came into existence which protected individuals from all acts of threats or violence. Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a declaration adopted on 10 Dec’1948 at the Palais de Chaillot in Paris. There were enormous human rights inscribed in the declaration such as right to liberty, life, security of people, everyone is equal before law regardless of their religion, color and race, protection against cruelty and inhumane conduct. Terror attacks on 9/11’2001 in New York were against the values of human rights. Human Rights Watch expresses grievance at such attacks on innocent civilians and wishes that those responsible should be brought before a court of law.
As it is rightly stated by Robert Alan: “The evolution of the human rights movement clearly illustrates humanity’s ongoing struggle toward creating a better world.”
