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By Michelle Maiese

June 2004  

What are Human Rights?

Human rights are the basic rights and freedoms to which all humans are considered entitled: the right to life, liberty, freedom of thought and expression, and equal treatment before the law, among others. These rights represent entitlements of the individual or groups vis-B-vis the government, as well as responsibilities of the individual and the government authorities.

Such rights are ascribed "naturally," which means that they are not earned and cannot be denied on the basis of race, creed, ethnicity or gender.[1] These rights are often advanced as legal rights and protected by the rule of law. However, they are distinct from and prior to law, and can be used as standards for formulating or criticizing both local and international law . It is typically thought that the conduct of governments and military forces must comply with these standards.

Various "basic" rights that cannot be violated under any circumstances are set forth in international human rights documents such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights , the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights , and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights . The rights established by these documents include economic, social, cultural, political and civil rights.[2]

While human rights are not always interpreted similarly across societies, these norms nonetheless form a common human rights vocabulary in which the claims of various cultures can be articulated. The widespread ratification of international human rights agreements such as those listed above is taken as evidence that these are widely shared values.[3] Having human rights norms in place imposes certain requirements on governments and legitimizes the complaints of individuals in those cases where fundamental rights and freedoms are not respected.[4] Such norms constitute a standard for the conduct of government and the administration of force. They can be used as "universal, non-discriminatory standards" for formulating or criticizing law and act as guidelines for proper conduct.[5]

Many conflicts are sparked by a failure to protect human rights, and the trauma that results from severe human rights violations often leads to new human rights violations. As conflict intensifies, hatred accumulates and makes restoration of peace more difficult. In order to stop this cycle of violence, states must institute policies aimed at human rights protection. Many believe that the protection of human rights "is essential to the sustainable achievement of the three agreed global priorities of peace , development and democracy ."[6] Respect for human rights has therefore become an integral part of international law and foreign policy. The specific goal of expanding such rights is to "increase safeguards for the dignity of the person."[7]

Despite what resembles a widespread consensus on the importance of human rights and the expansion of international treaties on such matters, the protection of human rights still often leaves much to be desired. Although international organizations have been created or utilized to embody these values, there is little to enforce the commitments states have made to human rights. Military intervention is a rare occurrence. Sanctions have a spotty track record of effectiveness. Although not to be dismissed as insignificant, often the only consequence for failing to protect human rights is "naming and shaming."

Interventions to Protect Human Rights

To protect human rights is to ensure that people receive some degree of decent, humane treatment. Because political systems that protect human rights are thought to reduce the threat of world conflict, all nations have a stake in promoting worldwide respect for human rights.[8] International human rights law, humanitarian intervention law and refugee law all protect the right to life and physical integrity and attempt to limit the unrestrained power of the state. These laws aim to preserve humanity and protect against anything that challenges people's health, economic well-being, social stability and political peace. Underlying such laws is the principle of nondiscrimination, the notion that rights apply universally.[9]

Responsibility to protect human rights resides first and foremost with the states themselves. However, in many cases public authorities and government officials institute policies that violate basic human rights. Such abuses of power by political leaders and state authorities have devastating effects, including genocide , war crimes and crimes against humanity. What can be done to safeguard human rights when those in power are responsible for human rights violations ? Can outside forces intervene in order to protect human rights?

Humanitarian Intervention

In some cases, the perceived need to protect human rights and maintain peace has led to humanitarian intervention. There is evidence that internationally we are moving towards the notion that governments have not only a negative duty to respect human rights, but also a positive duty to safeguard these rights, preserve life and protect people from having their rights violated by others.[10] Many believe that states' duties to intervene should not be determined by proximity, but rather by the severity of the crisis.

There are two kinds of humanitarian intervention involving the military: unilateral interventions by a single state, and collective interventions by a group of states.[11] Because relatively few states have sufficient force and capacity to intervene on their own, most modern interventions are collective. Some also argue that there is a normative consensus that multilateral intervention is the only acceptable form at present.[12]

There is much disagreement about when and to what extent outside countries can engage in such interventions. More specifically, there is debate about the efficacy of using military force to protect the human rights of individuals in other nations. This sort of debate stems largely from a tension between state sovereignty and the rights of individuals.

Some defend the principles of state sovereignty and nonintervention, and argue that other states must be permitted to determine their own course. They point out that the principles of state sovereignty and the non-use of force are enshrined in the charter of the United Nations , which is regarded as an authoritative source on international legal order.[13]

This argument suggests that different states have different conceptions of justice, and international coexistence depends on a pluralist ethic whereby each state can uphold its own conception of the good.[14] Among this group, there is "a profound skepticism about the possibilities of realizing notions of universal justice."[15] States that presume to judge what counts as a violation of human rights in another nation interfere with that nation's right to self-determination. Suspicions are further raised by the inconsistent respect for sovereignty (or human rights for that matter); namely, the Permanent Members of the UN Security Council have tremendous say over application of international principles. In addition, requiring some country to respect human rights is liable to cause friction and can lead to far-reaching disagreements.[16] Thus, acts of intervention may disrupt interstate order and lead to further conflict.[17] Even greater human suffering might thereby result if states set aside the norm of nonintervention.

Others point out that humanitarian intervention does not, in principle, threaten the territorial integrity and political independence of states. Rather than aiming to destabilize a target state and meddle in its affairs, humanitarian intervention aims to restore rule of law and promote humane treatment of individuals.[18]

Furthermore, people who advocate this approach maintain that "only the vigilant eye of the international community can ensure the proper observance of international standards, in the interest not of one state or another but of the individuals themselves."[19] They maintain that massive violations of human rights, such as genocide and crimes against humanity, warrant intervention, even if it causes some tension or disagreement. Certain rights are inalienable and universal, and "taking basic rights seriously means taking responsibility for their protection everywhere."[20]

If, through its atrocious actions, a state destroys the lives and rights of its citizens, it temporarily forfeits its claims to legitimacy and sovereignty.[21] Outside governments then have a positive duty to take steps to protect human rights and preserve lives. In addition, it is thought that political systems that protect human rights reduce the threat of world conflict.[22] Thus, intervention might also be justified on the ground of preserving international security, promoting justice and maintaining international order.

Nevertheless, governments are often reluctant to commit military forces and resources to defend human rights in other states.[23] In addition, the use of violence to end human rights violations poses a moral dilemma insofar as such interventions may lead to further loss of innocent lives.[24] Therefore, it is imperative that the least amount of force necessary to achieve humanitarian objectives be used, and that intervention not do more harm than good. Lastly, there is a need to ensure that intervention is legitimate, and motivated by genuine humanitarian concerns. The purposes of intervention must be apolitical and disinterested. However, if risks and costs of intervention are high, it is unlikely that states will intervene unless their own interests are involved.[25] For this reason, some doubt whether interventions are ever driven by humanitarian concerns rather than self-interest.

Many note that in order to truly address human rights violations, we must strive to understand the underlying causes of these breaches. These causes have to do with underdevelopment, economic pressures, social problems and international conditions.[26] Indeed, the roots of repression, discrimination and other denials of human rights stem from deeper and more complex political, social and economic problems. It is only by understanding and ameliorating these root causes and strengthening both democracy and civil society that we can truly protect human rights.

Restoring Human Rights in the Peacebuilding Phase

In the aftermath of conflict, violence and suspicion often persist. Government institutions and the judiciary, which bear the main responsibility for the observation of human rights, are often severely weakened by the conflict or complicit in it. Yet, a general improvement in the human rights situation is essential for rehabilitation of war-torn societies. Many argue that healing the psychological scars caused by atrocities and reconciliation at the community level cannot take place if the truth about past crimes is not revealed and if human rights are not protected. To preserve political stability, human rights implementation must be managed effectively. Issues of mistrust and betrayal must be addressed, and the rule of law must be restored. In such an environment, the international community can often play an important supporting role in providing at least implicit guarantees that former opponents will not abandon the peace.[27] Because all international norms are subject to cultural interpretation, external agents that assist in the restoration of human rights in post-conflict societies must be careful to find local terms with which to express human rights norms. While human rights are in theory universal, ideas about which basic needs should be guaranteed vary according to cultural, political, economic and religious circumstances. Consequently, policies to promote and protect human rights must be culturally adapted to avoid distrust and perceptions of intrusion into internal affairs.

To promote human rights standards in post-conflict societies, many psychological issues must be addressed. Societies must either introduce new social norms or reestablish old moral standards. They must design programs that will both address past injustice and prevent future human rights violations . Human rights must not become just another compartmentalized aspect of recovery, but must be infused throughout all peacebuilding and reconstruction activities. Democratization implies the restoration of political and social rights. Government officials and members of security and police forces have to be trained to observe basic rights in the execution of their duties. Finally, being able to forgive past violations is central to society's reconciliation .

Rights Protection Methods

Various methods to advance and protect human rights are available:

• During violent conflict, safe havens to protect refugees and war victims from any surrounding violence in their communities can sometimes help to safeguard human lives.
• As violent conflict begins to subside, peacekeeping strategies to physically separate disputants and prevent further violence are crucial. These measures, together with violence prevention mechanisms, can help to safeguard human lives. Limiting the use of violence is crucial to ensuring groups' survival and creating the necessary conditions for a return to peace.
• Education about human rights must become part of general public education. Technical and financial assistance should be provided to increase knowledge about human rights. Members of the police and security forces have to be trained to ensure the observation of human rights standards for law enforcement. Research institutes and universities should be strengthened to train lawyers and judges. To uphold human rights standards in the long-term, their values must permeate all levels of society.
• Dialogue groups that assemble people from various ethnicities should be organized to overcome mistrust, fear and grief in society. Getting to know the feelings of ordinary people of each side might help to change the demonic image of the enemy group. Dialogue also helps parties at the grassroots level to discover the truth about what has happened, and may provide opportunities for apology and forgiveness.
• External specialists can offer legislative assistance and provide guidance in drafting press freedom laws, minority legislation and laws securing gender equality. They can also assist in drafting a constitution, which guarantees fundamental political and economic rights.
• Those who perpetrate human rights violations find it much easier to do so in cases where their activities can remain secret. International witnesses , observers and reporters can exert modest pressure to bring violations of human rights to public notice and discourage further violence. Monitors should not only expose violations, but also make the public aware of any progress made in the realization of human rights. In order to ensure that proper action is taken after the results of investigations have been made public, effective mechanisms to address injustice must be in place.
• Truth commissions are sometimes established after a political transition. To distinguish them from other institutions established to deal with a legacy of human rights abuses, truth commissions can be understood as "bodies set up to investigate a past history of violations of human rights in a particular country -- which can include violations by the military or other government forces or armed opposition forces."[28] They are officially sanctioned temporary bodies that investigate a pattern of abuse in the past. Their goal is to uncover details of past abuses as a symbol of acknowledgment of past wrongs. They typically do not have the powers of courts, nor should they, since they do not have the same standards of evidence and protections for defendants. As such, they usually do not "name names" of those responsible for human rights abuses, but rather point to institutional failings that facilitated the crimes. Finally, they conclude with a report that contains recommendations to prevent a recurrence of the crimes and to provide reparations to victims.
• International war crimes tribunals are established to hold individuals criminally responsible for violations of international human rights law in special courts. The international community rarely has the will to create them. As the experiences with the war tribunals for Rwanda and Yugoslavia indicate, even where they are created, they are imperfect. They cannot hold all perpetrators accountable and typically aim for the top leadership. However, it remains difficult to sentence the top-level decision-makers, who bear the ultimate responsibility for atrocities. They often enjoy political immunity as members of the post-conflict government. Incriminating a popular leader might lead to violent protests and sometimes even to relapse into conflict. Leaders may be necessary to negotiate and implement a peace agreement.
• Various democratization measures can help to restore political and social rights. For sustainability and long-term viability of human rights standards, strong local enforcement mechanisms have to be established. An independent judiciary that provides impartial means and protects individuals against politically influenced persecution must be restored. Election monitors who help to guarantee fair voting procedures can help to ensure stable and peaceful elections. And various social structural changes , including reallocations of resources, increased political participation , and the strengthening of civil society can help to ensure that people's basic needs are met.
• Humanitarian aid and development assistance seeks to ease the impact that violent conflict has on civilians. During conflict, the primary aim is to prevent human casualties and ensure access to basic survival needs. These basics include water, sanitation, food, shelter and health care. Aid can also assist those who have been displaced and support rehabilitation work. Once conflict has ended, development assistance helps to advance reconstruction programs that rebuild infrastructure, institutions and the economy. This assistance helps countries to undergo peaceful development rather than sliding back into conflict.

The expansion of international human rights law has often not been matched by practice. Yet, there is growing consensus that the protection of human rights is important for the resolution of conflict and to the rebuilding process afterward. To achieve these goals, the international community has identified a number of mechanisms both to bring an end to human rights abuses and to establish an environment in which they will be respected in the future. They are not alternatives, but each provides important benefits in dealing with the past and envisioning a brighter future.

[1] Little, David. "Universality of Human Rights," [available at: http://www.usip.org/research/rehr/universality.html ] (no longer available as of March 5th 2013)

[2] endnote goes here**

[3] At the same time, some would argue that the hegemonic power of the West, whether through normative pressure or economic, is responsible for widespread ratification.

[4] Antonio Cassese, Human Rights in a Changing World . (Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1990), 2.

[5] Little, "The Nature and Basis of Human Rights," United States Institute of Peace.

[available at: http://www.usip.org/research/rehr/natbasis.html ] (no longer available as of March 5th 2013)

[6] "Human Rights Today: A United Nations Priority," The United Nations, 2000. [available at: http://www.un.org/rights/HRToday/ ]

[7] Cassese, 3.

[8] Cassese, 58.

[9] Don Hubert and Thomas G. Weiss et al. The Responsibility to Protect: Supplementary Volume to the Report of the International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty. (Canada: International Development Research Centre, 2001), 144.

[10] Hubert and Weiss, et al., 147.

[11] Kithure Kindiki, "Gross Violations of Human Rights in Internal Armed Conflicts in Africa: Is There a Right of Humanitarian Intervention?" in Conflict Trends , no. 3, 2001. ACCORD.

[12] Martha Finnemore, The purpose of intervention: changing beliefs about the use of force . (Ithaca, Cornell University Press, 2003), chapter 3.

[13] Kithure Kindiki, "Gross Violations of Human Rights"

[14] Hubert and Weiss, et al., 132.

[15] Hubert and Weiss, et al., 133.

[16] Cassese, 58.

z[17] Hubert and Weiss, et al., 133.

[18] Kithure Kindiki, "Gross Violations of Human Rights"

[19] Cassese, 55-6.

[20] Hubert and Weiss, et al., 135.

[21] Hubert and Weiss, et al., 136.

[22] Cassese, 58.

[23] Hubert and Weiss, et al., 136.

[24] Hubert and Weiss, et al., 137.

[25] Hubert and Weiss, et al., 141.

[26] Cassese, 59.

[27] See for example, Barbara F. Walter, Committing to peace: the successful settlement of civil wars . (Princeton, N.J., Princeton University Press: 2002).

[28] Priscilla B. Hayner, (1994). "Fifteen Truth Commissions - 1974 to 1994: A Comparative Study." Human Rights Quarterly. 16(4): 604.

Use the following to cite this article: Maiese, Michelle. "Human Rights Protection." Beyond Intractability . Eds. Guy Burgess and Heidi Burgess. Conflict Information Consortium, University of Colorado, Boulder. Posted: June 2004 < http://www.beyondintractability.org/essay/human-rights-protect >.

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Human Rights Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on human rights.

Human rights are a set of rights which every human is entitled to. Every human being is inherited with these rights no matter what caste, creed, gender, the economic status they belong to. Human rights are very important for making sure that all humans get treated equally. They are in fact essential for a good standard of living in the world.

Moreover, human rights safeguard the interests of the citizens of a country. You are liable to have human rights if you’re a human being. They will help in giving you a good life full of happiness and prosperity.

Human Rights Categories

Human rights are essentially divided into two categories of civil and political rights, and social rights. This classification is important because it clears the concept of human rights further. Plus, they also make humans realize their role in different spheres.

When we talk about civil and political rights , we refer to the classic rights of humans. These rights are responsible for limiting the government’s authority that may affect any individual’s independence. Furthermore, these rights allow humans to contribute to the involvement of the government. In addition to the determination of laws as well.

Next up, the social rights of people guide the government to encourage ways to plan various ways which will help in improving the life quality of citizens. All the governments of countries are responsible for ensuring the well-being of their citizens. Human rights help countries in doing so efficiently.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Importance of Human Rights

Human rights are extremely important for the overall development of a country and individuals on a personal level. If we take a look at the basic human rights, we see how there are right to life, the right to practice any religion, freedom of movement , freedom from movement and more. Each right plays a major role in the well-being of any human.

Right to life protects the lives of human beings. It ensures no one can kill you and thus safeguards your peace of mind. Subsequently, the freedom of thought and religion allows citizens to follow any religion they wish to. Moreover, it also means anyone can think freely.

Further, freedom of movement is helpful in people’s mobilization. It ensures no one is restricted from traveling and residing in any state of their choice. It allows you to grab opportunities wherever you wish to.

Next up, human rights also give you the right to a fair trial. Every human being has the right to move to the court where there will be impartial decision making . They can trust the court to give them justice when everything else fails.

Most importantly, humans are now free from any form of slavery. No other human being can indulge in slavery and make them their slaves. Further, humans are also free to speak and express their opinion.

In short, human rights are very essential for a happy living of human beings. However, these days they are violated endlessly and we need to come together to tackle this issue. The governments and citizens must take efforts to protect each other and progress for the better. In other words, this will ensure happiness and prosperity all over the world.

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Protect Human Rights

The term “human rights” was mentioned seven times in the UN's founding Charter , making the promotion and protection of human rights a key purpose and guiding principle of the Organization.

In 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights lay down the principles that brought human rights into the realm of international law. Since then, the Organization has diligently protected human rights through legal instruments and on-the-ground activities.

How does the UN promote and protect human rights?

Office of the high commissioner for human rights (ohchr).

Headquartered in Geneva, with many regional offices, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has lead responsibility in the UN system for the promotion and protection of human rights .

The office supports the human rights components of peacekeeping missions in several countries, and in addition to its regional offices, has HR Centres, Country/Stand-alone Offices and Human Rights Advisors all over the world .

The High Commissioner for Human Rights regularly comments on situations in the world relating to human rights issues , and has the authority to investigate situations and publish reports on them.

UN Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing Leilani Farha warns of widespread homelessness

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The Middle East

• OHCHR has a Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa in Beirut, Lebanon .

North Africa

• OHCHR's Regional Office for North Africa is in Tunis .

Human Rights Council

The Human Rights Council , which was established in 2006, meets in Geneva. It replaced the 60-year-old UN Commission on Human Rights as the key independent UN intergovernmental body responsible for human rights.

Human Rights Treaty Bodies

The human rights treaty bodies are committees of independent experts that monitor implementation of the core international human rights treaties . Each State party to a treaty has an obligation to take steps to ensure that everyone in the State can enjoy the rights set out in the treaty.

The treaty bodies are composed of independent experts of recognized competence in human rights, who are nominated and elected for fixed renewable terms of four years by State parties.

The Human Rights Treaty Body system

Special Procedures

The special procedures of the Human Rights Council are prominent, independent experts working on a voluntary basis, who examine, monitor, publicly report and advise on human rights from a thematic or country-specific perspective.

Special Advisers on the Prevention of Genocide and the Responsibility to Protect

The Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide acts as a catalyst to raise awareness of the causes and dynamics of genocide, to alert relevant actors where there is a risk of genocide, and to advocate and mobilize for appropriate action.

The Special Adviser on the Responsibility to Protect leads the conceptual, political, institutional and operational development of the Responsibility to Protect.

What legal instruments help the UN protect human rights?

More than 75 years ago the UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a common human rights standard for everyone, everywhere.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and two Covenants

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) was the first legal document protecting universal human rights. It is generally agreed to be the foundation of international human rights law . In 2023 we marked its 75th anniversary .

Together with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights , the three instruments form the so-called International Bill of Human Rights.

Other instruments

A series of international human rights treaties and other instruments adopted since 1945 have expanded the body of international human rights law .

In 2007, the General Assembly adopted the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples .

The Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs plays a leading role in the work of the UN to help countries hold credible, transparent and inclusive elections. Since 1992, the UN has assisted more than 100 of its Member States with electoral support.

Democracy , based on the rule of law, is ultimately a means to achieve international peace and security, economic and social progress and development, and respect for human rights – the three pillars of the United Nations mission as set forth in the UN Charter.

At the 2005 World Summit , all the world’s governments reaffirmed “that democracy is a universal value based on the freely expressed will of people to determine their own political, economic, social and cultural systems and their full participation in all aspects of their lives” and stressed “that democracy, development and respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms are interdependent and mutually reinforcing.”

Democratic principles are woven throughout the normative fabric of the United Nations. The 2009 Guidance Note on Democracy of the Secretary-General sets out the United Nations framework for democracy based on universal principles, norms and standards and commits the Organization to principled, coherent and consistent action in support of democracy.

What other UN offices and bodies are responsible for protecting human rights?

The Secretary-General appoints special representatives, who advocate against major human rights violations:

• Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict
• Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict
• Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children

The Highest Aspiration: A Call to Action for Human Rights

On 24 February 2020, Secretary-General António Guterres launched a Call to Action for Human Rights . “Human rights are our ultimate tool to help societies grow in freedom,” he told Member States on the opening day of the UN Human Rights Council ’s 43rd session in Geneva, as he detailed a seven-point blueprint for positive change. Echoing the call for change, the then High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said that although threats to human rights, development and peace were on the rise, so were the practical, actionable solutions to these issues.

• Security Council

The UN Security Council , at times, deals with grave human rights violations, often in conflict areas. The UN Charter gives the Security Council the authority to investigate and mediate, dispatch a mission, appoint special envoys, or request the Secretary-General to use his good offices .

The Security Council may issue a ceasefire directive, dispatch military observers or a peacekeeping force. If this is not enough, the Security Council can opt for enforcement measures, such as economic sanctions, arms embargos, financial penalties and restrictions, travel bans, the severance of diplomatic relations, a blockade, or even collective military action.

Third Committee of the General Assembly

The General Assembly’s Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) examines a range of issues, including human rights questions. The Committee also discusses questions relating to the advancement of women, the protection of children, indigenous issues, the treatment of refugees, the promotion of fundamental freedoms through the elimination of racism and racial discrimination, and the right to self-determination. The Committee also addresses important social development questions.

Various Other UN Bodies

Different intergovernmental bodies and interdepartmental mechanisms based at the United Nations headquarters in New York, as well as the United Nations Secretary-General , address a range of human rights issues.

The General Assembly , the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and their subsidiary organs make policy decisions and recommendations to Member States , the United Nations system and other actors.

The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII), an advisory body to the Economic and Social Council, has a mandate to discuss indigenous issues, including human rights.

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights interacts with and provides advice and support on human rights issues to these bodies and mechanisms. The Office also works to mainstream human rights in all areas of work of the Organization, including development , peacekeeping , women, peace and security , and responding to humanitarian crises . Human rights issues are also addressed in the context of the post-conflict UN peacebuilding support activities

UN Peace Operations

To celebrate International Day of UN Peacekeepers: Meet Nicole Ngoy, a human rights officer, working at the UN Peacekeeping Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Many United Nations peacekeeping operations and political and peacebuilding missions also include the human rights-related mandates aimed at contributing to the protection and promotion of human rights through both immediate and long-term action; empowering the population to assert and claim their human rights; and enabling State and other national institutions to implement their human rights obligations and uphold the rule of law.

Human rights teams on the ground work in close cooperation and coordination with other civilian and uniformed components of peace operations, in particular, in relation to the protection of civilians; addressing conflict-related sexual violence and violations against children; and strengthening respect for human rights and the rule of law through legal and judicial reform, security sector reform and prison system reform.

Commission on the Status of Women

The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is the principal global intergovernmental body dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the advancement of women.

UN Women , established in 2010, serves as its Secretariat.

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Essay on Human Rights: Samples in 500 and 1500

• Updated on  
• Dec 9, 2023

Essay writing is an integral part of the school curriculum and various academic and competitive exams like IELTS , TOEFL , SAT , UPSC , etc. It is designed to test your command of the English language and how well you can gather your thoughts and present them in a structure with a flow. To master your ability to write an essay, you must read as much as possible and practise on any given topic. This blog brings you a detailed guide on how to write an essay on Human Rights , with useful essay samples on Human rights.

This Blog Includes:

The basic human rights, 200 words essay on human rights, 500 words essay on human rights, 500+ words essay on human rights in india, 1500 words essay on human rights, importance of human rights, essay on human rights pdf.

Also Read: List of Human Rights Courses

Also Read: MSc Human Rights

Also Read: 1-Minute Speech on Human Rights for Students

What are Human Rights

Human rights mark everyone as free and equal, irrespective of age, gender, caste, creed, religion and nationality. The United Nations adopted human rights in light of the atrocities people faced during the Second World War. On the 10th of December 1948, the UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Its adoption led to the recognition of human rights as the foundation for freedom, justice and peace for every individual. Although it’s not legally binding, most nations have incorporated these human rights into their constitutions and domestic legal frameworks. Human rights safeguard us from discrimination and guarantee that our most basic needs are protected.

Did you know that the 10th of December is celebrated as Human Rights Day ?

Before we move on to the essays on human rights, let’s check out the basics of what they are.

Also Read: What are Human Rights?

Also Read: 7 Impactful Human Rights Movies Everyone Must Watch!

Here is a 200-word short sample essay on basic Human Rights.

Human rights are a set of rights given to every human being regardless of their gender, caste, creed, religion, nation, location or economic status. These are said to be moral principles that illustrate certain standards of human behaviour. Protected by law , these rights are applicable everywhere and at any time. Basic human rights include the right to life, right to a fair trial, right to remedy by a competent tribunal, right to liberty and personal security, right to own property, right to education, right of peaceful assembly and association, right to marriage and family, right to nationality and freedom to change it, freedom of speech, freedom from discrimination, freedom from slavery, freedom of thought, conscience and religion, freedom of movement, right of opinion and information, right to adequate living standard and freedom from interference with privacy, family, home and correspondence.

Also Read: Law Courses

Check out this 500-word long essay on Human Rights.

Every person has dignity and value. One of the ways that we recognise the fundamental worth of every person is by acknowledging and respecting their human rights. Human rights are a set of principles concerned with equality and fairness. They recognise our freedom to make choices about our lives and develop our potential as human beings. They are about living a life free from fear, harassment or discrimination.

Human rights can broadly be defined as the basic rights that people worldwide have agreed are essential. These include the right to life, the right to a fair trial, freedom from torture and other cruel and inhuman treatment, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the right to health, education and an adequate standard of living. These human rights are the same for all people everywhere – men and women, young and old, rich and poor, regardless of our background, where we live, what we think or believe. This basic property is what makes human rights’ universal’.

Human rights connect us all through a shared set of rights and responsibilities. People’s ability to enjoy their human rights depends on other people respecting those rights. This means that human rights involve responsibility and duties towards other people and the community. Individuals have a responsibility to ensure that they exercise their rights with consideration for the rights of others. For example, when someone uses their right to freedom of speech, they should do so without interfering with someone else’s right to privacy.

Governments have a particular responsibility to ensure that people can enjoy their rights. They must establish and maintain laws and services that enable people to enjoy a life in which their rights are respected and protected. For example, the right to education says that everyone is entitled to a good education. Therefore, governments must provide good quality education facilities and services to their people. If the government fails to respect or protect their basic human rights, people can take it into account.

Values of tolerance, equality and respect can help reduce friction within society. Putting human rights ideas into practice can help us create the kind of society we want to live in. There has been tremendous growth in how we think about and apply human rights ideas in recent decades. This growth has had many positive results – knowledge about human rights can empower individuals and offer solutions for specific problems.

Human rights are an important part of how people interact with others at all levels of society – in the family, the community, school, workplace, politics and international relations. Therefore, people everywhere must strive to understand what human rights are. When people better understand human rights, it is easier for them to promote justice and the well-being of society. 

Also Read: Important Articles in Indian Constitution

Here is a human rights essay focused on India.

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. It has been rightly proclaimed in the American Declaration of Independence that “all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Created with certain unalienable rights….” Similarly, the Indian Constitution has ensured and enshrined Fundamental rights for all citizens irrespective of caste, creed, religion, colour, sex or nationality. These basic rights, commonly known as human rights, are recognised the world over as basic rights with which every individual is born.

In recognition of human rights, “The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was made on the 10th of December, 1948. This declaration is the basic instrument of human rights. Even though this declaration has no legal bindings and authority, it forms the basis of all laws on human rights. The necessity of formulating laws to protect human rights is now being felt all over the world. According to social thinkers, the issue of human rights became very important after World War II concluded. It is important for social stability both at the national and international levels. Wherever there is a breach of human rights, there is conflict at one level or the other.

Given the increasing importance of the subject, it becomes necessary that educational institutions recognise the subject of human rights as an independent discipline. The course contents and curriculum of the discipline of human rights may vary according to the nature and circumstances of a particular institution. Still, generally, it should include the rights of a child, rights of minorities, rights of the needy and the disabled, right to live, convention on women, trafficking of women and children for sexual exploitation etc.

Since the formation of the United Nations , the promotion and protection of human rights have been its main focus. The United Nations has created a wide range of mechanisms for monitoring human rights violations. The conventional mechanisms include treaties and organisations, U.N. special reporters, representatives and experts and working groups. Asian countries like China argue in favour of collective rights. According to Chinese thinkers, European countries lay stress upon individual rights and values while Asian countries esteem collective rights and obligations to the family and society as a whole.

With the freedom movement the world over after World War II, the end of colonisation also ended the policy of apartheid and thereby the most aggressive violation of human rights. With the spread of education, women are asserting their rights. Women’s movements play an important role in spreading the message of human rights. They are fighting for their rights and supporting the struggle for human rights of other weaker and deprived sections like bonded labour, child labour, landless labour, unemployed persons, Dalits and elderly people.

Unfortunately, violation of human rights continues in most parts of the world. Ethnic cleansing and genocide can still be seen in several parts of the world. Large sections of the world population are deprived of the necessities of life i.e. food, shelter and security of life. Right to minimum basic needs viz. Work, health care, education and shelter are denied to them. These deprivations amount to the negation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Also Read: Human Rights Courses

Check out this detailed 1500-word essay on human rights.

The human right to live and exist, the right to equality, including equality before the law, non-discrimination on the grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth, and equality of opportunity in matters of employment, the right to freedom of speech and expression, assembly, association, movement, residence, the right to practice any profession or occupation, the right against exploitation, prohibiting all forms of forced labour, child labour and trafficking in human beings, the right to freedom of conscience, practice and propagation of religion and the right to legal remedies for enforcement of the above are basic human rights. These rights and freedoms are the very foundations of democracy.

Obviously, in a democracy, the people enjoy the maximum number of freedoms and rights. Besides these are political rights, which include the right to contest an election and vote freely for a candidate of one’s choice. Human rights are a benchmark of a developed and civilised society. But rights cannot exist in a vacuum. They have their corresponding duties. Rights and duties are the two aspects of the same coin.

Liberty never means license. Rights presuppose the rule of law, where everyone in the society follows a code of conduct and behaviour for the good of all. It is the sense of duty and tolerance that gives meaning to rights. Rights have their basis in the ‘live and let live’ principle. For example, my right to speech and expression involves my duty to allow others to enjoy the same freedom of speech and expression. Rights and duties are inextricably interlinked and interdependent. A perfect balance is to be maintained between the two. Whenever there is an imbalance, there is chaos.

A sense of tolerance, propriety and adjustment is a must to enjoy rights and freedom. Human life sans basic freedom and rights is meaningless. Freedom is the most precious possession without which life would become intolerable, a mere abject and slavish existence. In this context, Milton’s famous and oft-quoted lines from his Paradise Lost come to mind: “To reign is worth ambition though in hell/Better to reign in hell, than serve in heaven.”

However, liberty cannot survive without its corresponding obligations and duties. An individual is a part of society in which he enjoys certain rights and freedom only because of the fulfilment of certain duties and obligations towards others. Thus, freedom is based on mutual respect’s rights. A fine balance must be maintained between the two, or there will be anarchy and bloodshed. Therefore, human rights can best be preserved and protected in a society steeped in morality, discipline and social order.

Violation of human rights is most common in totalitarian and despotic states. In the theocratic states, there is much persecution, and violation in the name of religion and the minorities suffer the most. Even in democracies, there is widespread violation and infringement of human rights and freedom. The women, children and the weaker sections of society are victims of these transgressions and violence.

The U.N. Commission on Human Rights’ main concern is to protect and promote human rights and freedom in the world’s nations. In its various sessions held from time to time in Geneva, it adopts various measures to encourage worldwide observations of these basic human rights and freedom. It calls on its member states to furnish information regarding measures that comply with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights whenever there is a complaint of a violation of these rights. In addition, it reviews human rights situations in various countries and initiates remedial measures when required.

The U.N. Commission was much concerned and dismayed at the apartheid being practised in South Africa till recently. The Secretary-General then declared, “The United Nations cannot tolerate apartheid. It is a legalised system of racial discrimination, violating the most basic human rights in South Africa. It contradicts the letter and spirit of the United Nations Charter. That is why over the last forty years, my predecessors and I have urged the Government of South Africa to dismantle it.”

Now, although apartheid is no longer practised in that country, other forms of apartheid are being blatantly practised worldwide. For example, sex apartheid is most rampant. Women are subject to abuse and exploitation. They are not treated equally and get less pay than their male counterparts for the same jobs. In employment, promotions, possession of property etc., they are most discriminated against. Similarly, the rights of children are not observed properly. They are forced to work hard in very dangerous situations, sexually assaulted and exploited, sold and bonded for labour.

The Commission found that religious persecution, torture, summary executions without judicial trials, intolerance, slavery-like practices, kidnapping, political disappearance, etc., are being practised even in the so-called advanced countries and societies. The continued acts of extreme violence, terrorism and extremism in various parts of the world like Pakistan, India, Iraq, Afghanistan, Israel, Somalia, Algeria, Lebanon, Chile, China, and Myanmar, etc., by the governments, terrorists, religious fundamentalists, and mafia outfits, etc., is a matter of grave concern for the entire human race.

Violation of freedom and rights by terrorist groups backed by states is one of the most difficult problems society faces. For example, Pakistan has been openly collaborating with various terrorist groups, indulging in extreme violence in India and other countries. In this regard the U.N. Human Rights Commission in Geneva adopted a significant resolution, which was co-sponsored by India, focusing on gross violation of human rights perpetrated by state-backed terrorist groups.

The resolution expressed its solidarity with the victims of terrorism and proposed that a U.N. Fund for victims of terrorism be established soon. The Indian delegation recalled that according to the Vienna Declaration, terrorism is nothing but the destruction of human rights. It shows total disregard for the lives of innocent men, women and children. The delegation further argued that terrorism cannot be treated as a mere crime because it is systematic and widespread in its killing of civilians.

Violation of human rights, whether by states, terrorists, separatist groups, armed fundamentalists or extremists, is condemnable. Regardless of the motivation, such acts should be condemned categorically in all forms and manifestations, wherever and by whomever they are committed, as acts of aggression aimed at destroying human rights, fundamental freedom and democracy. The Indian delegation also underlined concerns about the growing connection between terrorist groups and the consequent commission of serious crimes. These include rape, torture, arson, looting, murder, kidnappings, blasts, and extortion, etc.

Violation of human rights and freedom gives rise to alienation, dissatisfaction, frustration and acts of terrorism. Governments run by ambitious and self-seeking people often use repressive measures and find violence and terror an effective means of control. However, state terrorism, violence, and human freedom transgressions are very dangerous strategies. This has been the background of all revolutions in the world. Whenever there is systematic and widespread state persecution and violation of human rights, rebellion and revolution have taken place. The French, American, Russian and Chinese Revolutions are glowing examples of human history.

The first war of India’s Independence in 1857 resulted from long and systematic oppression of the Indian masses. The rapidly increasing discontent, frustration and alienation with British rule gave rise to strong national feelings and demand for political privileges and rights. Ultimately the Indian people, under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, made the British leave India, setting the country free and independent.

Human rights and freedom ought to be preserved at all costs. Their curtailment degrades human life. The political needs of a country may reshape Human rights, but they should not be completely distorted. Tyranny, regimentation, etc., are inimical of humanity and should be resisted effectively and united. The sanctity of human values, freedom and rights must be preserved and protected. Human Rights Commissions should be established in all countries to take care of human freedom and rights. In cases of violation of human rights, affected individuals should be properly compensated, and it should be ensured that these do not take place in future.

These commissions can become effective instruments in percolating the sensitivity to human rights down to the lowest levels of governments and administrations. The formation of the National Human Rights Commission in October 1993 in India is commendable and should be followed by other countries.

Also Read: Law Courses in India

Human rights are of utmost importance to seek basic equality and human dignity. Human rights ensure that the basic needs of every human are met. They protect vulnerable groups from discrimination and abuse, allow people to stand up for themselves, and follow any religion without fear and give them the freedom to express their thoughts freely. In addition, they grant people access to basic education and equal work opportunities. Thus implementing these rights is crucial to ensure freedom, peace and safety.

Human Rights Day is annually celebrated on the 10th of December.

Human Rights Day is celebrated to commemorate the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the UNGA in 1948.

Some of the common Human Rights are the right to life and liberty, freedom of opinion and expression, freedom from slavery and torture and the right to work and education.

We hope our sample essays on Human Rights have given you some great ideas. For more information on such interesting blogs, visit our essay writing page and follow Leverage Edu .

Sonal is a creative, enthusiastic writer and editor who has worked extensively for the Study Abroad domain. She splits her time between shooting fun insta reels and learning new tools for content marketing. If she is missing from her desk, you can find her with a group of people cracking silly jokes or petting neighbourhood dogs.

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How To Promote Human Rights: 10 Examples

When it comes to respecting and promoting human rights, governments bear the primary responsibility. However, every individual owes it to themselves and their communities to promote human rights. That can seem like a challenging task, but there are many ways you can undertake this mission in both your daily life and as a lifelong goal. Here are ten examples:

Research human rights issues

To promote human rights, you first need to understand the issues . Many people have good intentions, but if they lack accurate information, their efforts can make things worse. Commit to thorough research from credible sources, such as the United Nations, the World Health Organization, and news organizations with good track records. Bear in mind that no source is perfect and even reliable organizations can miss the mark. It’s your responsibility to read widely, listen to people’s stories, and recognize that learning is a continuous process.

Donate to good organizations

Donating money is one of the best ways to promote human rights. Money allows organizations to continue their work whether it’s providing aid to people in crisis, pressuring governments to take action on human rights, or creating programs that empower the disenfranchised. There are millions of NGOs today, but not all use their funds wisely. Before donating, investigate the organization by looking at places like Charity Navigator or GuideStar . All organizations have some problems, but some are worse than others. If you’re wary of large NGOs, look for smaller-scale local organizations and mutual aid funds.

Change your shopping habits

You can promote human rights by considering the human rights impact of your shopping habits. Do the stores and corporations you buy from exploit their workers? Do they pay a fair wage? Where do they source their materials? You most likely won’t be able to shop from exclusively ethical and sustainable businesses because of the financial cost. However, you can choose to eliminate the worst offenders and commit to only buying gifts from ethical places . Also, ethical and sustainable items tend to last longer so you buy less overall.

Connect to human rights movements

It’s much easier to promote human rights within a group. Look for groups doing human rights work in your area or join online communities that connect you to global movements. When people work together, they can raise more awareness and funds for the causes they promote. Good groups will have strong leadership, good accountability systems, and a commitment to listening to the communities they serve.

Vote in every election

If you live in a country with elections, you can promote human rights by voting whenever you can. That includes local elections, school board elections, and more. Pay attention to the candidates running and their platforms. You can also participate in democracy by helping other people vote, including those who face disenfranchisement or who believe voting doesn’t matter.

Put pressure on those responsible for upholding human rights

As we mentioned in the introduction, governments are responsible for protecting human rights. They often fail. You can promote human rights by contacting government officials and urging them to take action on pressing issues . You can contact international entities, as well, if you’re unable to directly contact your government or if they are not responsive.

Protest inequalities

Peaceful protest is one of the most powerful ways to support human rights. Throughout history, protests have sparked major changes surrounding laws, regime changes, and more. The bigger the protest, the more attention an issue gets. Protests can be dangerous and involve the police, so organizers must have ways to stay in communication with everyone and a plan to leave the area safely.

Support mothers and parents

Women and children are two of the most vulnerable groups in the world. Even in wealthy countries like the United States, there are wide disparities and few resources for mothers and parents in need of help. You can promote and protect their rights by supporting aid organizations , advocating for good maternity and paternity leave, and supporting reproductive rights.

Take action when you see discrimination

A person’s rights are disrespected every time they face discrimination. You can promote human rights in your daily life by doing something when you witness things like racism or sexism. Taking action can mean different things depending on the situation. Commit to finding out what best serves the people you want to help as opposed to trying to “play the hero.” As an example, if you see discrimination in a workplace , try to talk to the person who was the target of the discrimination before taking any action. They might have specific ideas about how you can support them.

Support economic rights

Economic rights are at the root of many other human rights. If someone lives in poverty, they are vulnerable to a host of other inequalities like a lack of access to healthcare, education, housing, and more. A lack of economic rights also fuels violence and human trafficking . If you want to promote human rights, you can’t forget about poverty. Advocate for things like equal pay for equal work, education access, free childcare, clean water and sanitation, and more.

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About the author, emmaline soken-huberty.

Emmaline Soken-Huberty is a freelance writer based in Portland, Oregon. She started to become interested in human rights while attending college, eventually getting a concentration in human rights and humanitarianism. LGBTQ+ rights, women’s rights, and climate change are of special concern to her. In her spare time, she can be found reading or enjoying Oregon’s natural beauty with her husband and dog.

How are today’s biggest tech trends affecting our human rights?

Big data poses new challenges - and opportunities - when it comes to human rights

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Next year it will be 70 years since the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Declaration is a ground-breaking agreement affirming the rights of individual citizens, including the right to freedom from discrimination, the right to education, the right to a free and fair world and many more.

As a technological revolution, the Fourth Industrial Revolution is changing the way we live, work and interact with one another. It also has the potential to both challenge and uphold human rights. How are today’s three biggest technological trends impacting these rights?

Automation and the right to fair and decent work

The increasing use of AI and automation is disrupting the global jobs market and significantly impacting the right to fair and decent work. Experts estimate that by 2020, 85% of all customer interactions will be handled without a human agent , with support coming in the form of chatbots and self-service technologies. The OECD estimates that AI is currently meeting or exceeding human performance in a significant number of domains .

A subset of AI, Machine Learning (ML), is expanding rapidly, unlocking pathways to increasingly efficient, accurate, and powerful processes ranging from diagnosing cancer to enabling self-driving cars. Data is the key ingredient that makes machine learning possible. Companies like HireVue are uses AI and facial analysis to measure tone and delivery, for example, to make the hiring process more efficient.

However, not all data is created equal, nor is it equally available across geographies and demographics. The biggest sources of risk for data-related discrimination are inadequate data availability and biased or error-ridden data. In hiring practices, for example, algorithms mimic human decision-making, which can be based on bias.

The internet and the right to freedom of expression

The internet provides huge opportunity for individuals to exercise the right to freedom of opinion and expression through communication and exchange of ideas. More than 3 billion people now use the internet, a 2.3 billion rise since 2000.

Yet governments around the world shut down the internet more than 50 times in 2016, according to the United Nations – suppressing elections, slowing economies and limiting free speech. So called ‘fake news’ proliferated in the 2016 US election, a phenomenon familiar to countries such as the Philippines and Indonesia where online news has huge reach and influence. Technology companies’ ability to take down extremist content in real time is limited.

The Internet of Things and the right to privacy

The Internet of Things is perforating domains that were previously private. As a result, the distinction between private and public spheres is blurring and the individual’s right to privacy is being threatened. Business Insider projects there will be 34 billion devices connected to the internet by 2020. All of those devices have the ability to interact with and track our personal data, from smart phone location tracking to motion sensors with inbuilt video cameras filming your movements.

Millions of us are giving away our private data without even realising, despite many of us valuing privacy more than ever. This has an impact on children as well as adults. There is a growing industry of ‘smart toys’ equipped with AI and speech recognition that can interact with children, learn and send data back to the manufacturers - potentially violating the privacy rights of the child.

Three ways technology can protect human rights

1. Online learning and the right to education

More than 120 million children and adolescents around the world are out of school. Technology is becoming a major asset in the pathway to ensuring a quality education for all.

Online learning platforms are proliferating globally thanks to the internet. Platforms such as the Khan Academy, which has 10 million unique visitors a month, have been training children and adults since 2006. Africa alone has nearly 700 million mobile phone subscribers, offering opportunities to share educational content. BYJU’s is India’s largest app, with 7 million subscribers using digital animation and videos to share lessons with a focus on maths and science.

EdTech is disrupting education. Companies such as RoboTutor are creating open-source apps that enable children with little or no access to schools to learn basic reading, writing, and arithmetic. Chimple is using gamification and cognitive research to develop open-source software to autonomously help children learn – in groups or alone.

2. Big data and human rights

There is a now a vast amount of data available on environmental conditions, migration and conflict situations thanks to social media, crowd-sourced data and tracking devices on vehicles, mobile phones and other sensors. Cloud computing and big data analysis can use this data to analyse key trends and provide early warnings for critical issues before they occur, aiding the prevention and rapid response to humanitarian disasters.

Microsoft is collaborating with the United Nations to develop Rights View, a “dashboard” that will allow UN human rights staff to aggregate large quantities of internal and external data on specific countries and types of rights violations in real time. OCHA has opened a Centre for Humanitarian Data in the Netherlands that is focussed on increasing the use of data in humanitarian work. Before Hurricane Harvey hit the US earlier this year, agencies including NASA and NOAA were using technology to predict when the storm would hit.

3. Protecting human rights in the supply chain

Modern-day slavery still exists in the supply chains of many corporations. An estimated 30 million people are currently in forced labour in supply chains across multiple industries from electronics to fishing. Blockchain is an authentication mechanism that can enable transparency in supply chains from sourcing through to the customer purchase.

Blockchain is already being tested to eliminate abuses in certain supply chains. Everledger uses blockchain to track the provenance of diamonds – in particular whether or not they come from conflict zones. Provenance has tested tracking the origin of fish initiated by the catcher on the boat – in an industry where slavery is rife.

What’s next for technology and human rights?

In September, the World Economic Forum co-hosted a workshop for civil society and technology companies at its Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution together with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and Microsoft. The aim was to explore what human rights mean in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Brad Smith, President of Microsoft, and Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, concluded the day with a call to action: business, civil society, policy makers and technology companies have a responsibility to create solutions that keep humans at the core of emerging technologies. The newly created Partnership on AI , in which Microsoft is playing an active role, is an example of such public-private collaboration to advance human rights.

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Can technology help solve human rights challenges? We believe it can.

I first heard of the XPRIZE Foundation in 2004 when it awarded its first ever prize to a team that developed a reusable spaceship. It was clear that the prize was a powerful incentive to spur people to make truly innovative ideas come to life. Since then, that same incentive has been applied by other prizes that have tackled a variety of challenges ranging from healthcare, to adult literacy and lunar exploration.

When, earlier this year, I met with XPRIZE in person, it became quickly obvious there were plenty of possibilities for collaboration between Amnesty and XPRIZE to help address the world’s human rights challenges.

Amnesty International’s mission is simple: we want everyone in the world to enjoy their human rights.

Human rights are the modern embodiment of centuries-old human ideals: justice, equality, freedom and dignity. The international system that started with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights aims to protect people from discrimination, protect their rights at work, improve their access to quality food, housing and water, and protect their freedom of expression and religious choices.

Many of the freedoms that billions of people take for granted today would not have been possible without decades of hard work to codify human rights principles into law, implement them, monitor them and campaign for them to be respected and protected by governments and private bodies. Yet, there is much that still needs to be done, and it’s crucial that the methods we use to protect human rights keep pace with the times. Here are some of the human rights challenges that Amnesty is working on:

• More than 20 million refugees have lost their homes and fled their countries because of conflicts and persecution; most of them have scant support and as a result are left destitute. Millions of refugee children receive little or no education;
• Women and girls face discrimination at home, in schools and in the workplace. Harassment and violence in the physical world has crossed over to the digital world, pushing many away from social media and restricting the space to freely express their opinions;
• In many countries, activists and journalists are harassed and imprisoned for speaking out against corruption and abuses of power. Their work is disrupted by unlawful surveillance and draconian laws enforced by oppressive authorities;
• Millions of people are suffering because of conflicts in countries like Sudan and Syria; civilian homes are bombed and burned with impunity and humanitarian assistance is blocked from reaching civilians who desperately need it.

Political, economic and technological changes can create risks and opportunities for human rights. In this era of unprecedented technological advances, those who work on technologies like artificial intelligence, robotics, and genetic engineering have a great responsibility to ensure not only that these technologies are safe and respect people’s rights, but that they are part of the solution to today’s human rights concerns.

XPrize’s mission to encourage the development of technology to change the world for the better is an inspiring example of how this could work. Technology can play an influential and positive role in helping to tackle humanity’s problems, including the many challenges confronting human rights globally. For example, could technologies, such as artificial intelligence, help solve some of the following issues?

• Harassment and threats of violence online – how can we track, quantify and address online harassment and violence against women and minority groups, while respecting privacy and freedom of speech?
• Abuse against refugees and migrants – understanding how  xenophobic, racist rhetoric from public figures affect attitudes towards refugees and migrants and how these groups can be effectively protected from associated harms?
• Tracking pollution and environmental damage, and alerting people to risks to their health early.
• Turning noise to signal: helping human rights researchers discover evidence of abuses in an ever-growing sea of often unstructured information shared through digital channels.
• Understanding public sentiment reliably and efficiently to more effectively mobilize people to advocate for their rights, and campaign against human rights abuses where they’re happening.

These are just a few examples. There are doubtless numerous other ways in which different technologies could help end human rights abuses and protect dignity, freedom and justice globally.  That is why we are inviting the XPrize community to consider using their expertise and knowledge to help make the dream of human rights protection for all a reality.

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6 Ways we can help protect human dignity

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The first attitude that we should have when we contemplate our dignity is respect, and rejection of anything that turns human beings into a means to an end , not an end in and of themselves. We cannot treat any human being as an object, a “thing,” a means to achieve our personal goals. This moral imperative can take the form of various principles that should guide our behavior in concrete ways.

The principle of respect

In every action and intention, in every goal and every means, always treat each and every person — yourself and others — with the respect they deserve due to their dignity and value as a person. Every human being has equal intrinsic dignity and value, due to their basic condition of being human. The value of human beings is different from that of other things around us, which we use. Things have value based on exchange. They are replaceable. Human beings, on the contrary, have unlimited value, because as individuals with a unique identity, capable of knowing and choosing, they are unique and irreplaceable.

The principle of respect requires all people in general to be treated with respect. Objects can be manipulated and used, but not people: the freedom of choice of every human being must be respected. The principle of respect doesn’t only apply to other people, but also to ourselves. Thus, for example, self-respect means acting with integrity, whatever our profession may be.

The principle of good will and not ill will

In each and every one of your actions, avoid harming other people, and always seek their well-being.

Principle of double effect

In your actions, seek above all a beneficial effect. Assuming that in both your actions and your intentions you treat everyone with respect, ensure that there are no foreseeable harmful secondary effects out of proportion to the good that follows from the primary effect of your actions.

The principle of integrity

Behave at all times with the honesty of an authentic professional, making all your decisions with the respect you owe yourself, such that you make yourself worthy of living your profession to its fullness. Being a professional doesn’t mean just exercising a profession; it also means exercising it with professionalism — that is to say, with profound knowledge of your field, with total loyalty to ethical norms, and seeking to serve other people and society above any selfish interests.

The principle of justice

Treat others as is their due as human beings; be just, treating all people the same way. That is to say, treat each person in a similar way in similar circumstances. The main idea of the principle of justice is to treat people as we should, as corresponds to their equal dignity. This can manifest itself in different ways, since there are different kinds or aspects of justice. These include substantive justice, distributive justice, commutative justice, procedural justice, and retributive justice.

The principle of utility

Assuming that in both your actions and your intentions you treat all people with respect, always choose that form of action that will produce the greatest benefit for the greatest number of people. The principle of utility places emphasis on the consequences of an action. Nonetheless, it presupposes that you have acted with respect towards all involved. If you have to choose between two morally permissible actions, chose the one that has a better result for more people.

There’s an easy criterion you can use to determine if you are treating someone with respect: ask yourself whether or not the action you are going to perform could go both ways. That is to say, would you want someone to do to you what you are planning to do to someone else? This is the fundamental idea contained in the Golden Rule: “Treat others as you would have them treat you.” This idea isn’t unique to Christians; it is common in many religions and cultures.

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HRC 35: How to protect human rights in the face of rapidly changing technology?

To raise awareness and deepen the debate on these critical issues within the HRC community, APC participated in HRC35, organising several side events. Together with ARTICLE 19, Access Now, Privacy International, and the Permanent Missions of Sweden, Germany, Austria, Brazil, Mexico and Lichtenstein, APC organised and spoke on a panel on "Digital Access, Shutdowns and Surveillance" to discuss Kaye’s report.

Kaye shared key findings from his report, which details how internet shutdowns violate international human rights law and examines the role of the digital access sector more broadly. Last year, with resolution 32/13 , the HRC unequivocally condemned internet shutdowns, but since the resolution, at least 15 states have implemented internet shutdowns, including Kashmir, Cameroon and India (which has undergone 20 in 2017), for reasons that go from preserving public order and national security to “preventing students from copying in exams”, lawyer and APC-IMPACT project coordinator Gayatri Khandadhai highlighted. The panellists discussed how ordinary citizens experience internet shutdowns, and raised the connection between internet shutdowns and the domino effect they have on freedom of assembly, association and on economic, social and cultural rights, especially the rights to health and education, which are severely hit. Julie Owono from Internet Sans Frontières noted that many of the companies that violate users rights in Africa are subsidiaries of companies based outside of Africa (for example, in Europe) and questioned the human rights obligations of the states where those companies are based.

Representatives of the private sector shared some of the initiatives they have taken to deal with government requests for access to user data and orders to interrupt service. They outlined a number of challenges that they face in upholding their responsibility to respect human rights, awareness and understanding within all levels of the company, increasing transparency around their decisions, while respecting the privacy of users, and ensuring the safety of local employees who may face physical intimidation. “The HRC must continue to send out the message that network shutdowns are undesirable and unacceptable,” Khandadhai concluded.

Internet shutdowns, and other crackdowns against freedom of expression and media freedom, continue to increase particularly in regions like South Asia, where APC has a strong focus. APC and FORUM-ASIA organised a side event "Freedom of Expression in South Asia", where participants highlighted the deteriorating situation for freedom of expression in countries like India, Maldives and Pakistan, where a steep rise in nationalist agenda is causing censorship and backlash throughout the region, a crackdown on secular and liberal speech which affect all art and artistic expression, attacks on journalists, and new laws and re-interpretation of old laws that legitimise these unreasonable restrictions. “States in the region end up inspiring one another,” the participants noted. The event also discussed and honoured human rights defenders, journalists and civil society activists such as Yameen Rashid , killed in the Maldives in a context of increasing repression of dissent around the globe.

APC co-organised a second event on freedom of expression and religion in Asia with FORUM-ASIA, titled “ Religion and Expression Online in Asia ”. The event provided a platform for human rights defenders to highlight on-the-ground realities in the exercise of freedom of expression and religion in online spaces and look at the criminalisation of speech termed as “blasphemy” in relation to hate speech, which remains unaddressed. This event also saw the sharing of initial findings by APC and the Centre for Communication Governance on the issues of hate speech and religion-related restrictions on expression. “We operate in an environment of fear and intimidation,” remarked Shahindha Ismail of the Maldives Democracy Network. The Rabat Plan of action was discussed in detail and ideas on how to engage with the process were proposed.

To dive deeper into the conclusions and recommendations of the OHCHR report on bridging the gender digital divide from a human rights perspective, APC, together with OHCHR and the missions of Sweden, Brazil and the United States, organised a side event bringing together experts working on internet access, violence against women, and internet governance, among others. Internet penetration rates remain higher for men than women, but access is more than just penetration rates or infrastructure. It is also about how existing offline power dynamics and cultural norms around gender equality play out in digital spaces. The Permanent Representative of Sweden to the UN in Geneva, Ambassador Veronika Bard, noted that the report constitutes a significant contribution to bridging the divide between men and women, and called for creating an enabling environment that empowers women and girls. The panel discussion addressed how the human rights community can better confront the barriers that women face accessing the internet to exercise their human rights. In particular, the threat of gender-based violence and abuse were discussed in detail. 

The UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, Dubravka Šimonovic, announced that her next report to the HRC will focus on this issue, and called for input from experts and stakeholders. There was consensus about the need for more data, to better understand the types of barriers to using ICTs that women are facing. Otherwise, the policies being developed to bridge the gender digital divide will be supply driven rather than demand driven. Panellists also advocated strongly for the need to increase the participation of women in internet governance discussions, where gender equality and human rights are too often seen as non-issues, and not on the agenda. Finally, there was consensus around the report’s linking of the gender digital divide as part broader gender inequalities and discrimination that women face in society, as well as its framing of overcoming women’s barriers to meaningfully accessing and using ICTs as part of human rights obligations to promote, protect, and fulfil human rights.

Panellists encouraged the HRC to further address this issue through its bi-annual resolution on the promotion, protection, and enjoyment of human rights on the internet. The HRC’s June session saw considerable substantive debate on internet rights, which we expect to continue in the coming year with the Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression’s upcoming report on content regulation and internet platforms, and the Special Rapporteur on violence against women’s report on gender-based violence online, among others. We are encouraged to see more states taking an interest in the online dimensions of human rights and will continue to work with others in civil society to build awareness and deepen understanding of the link between human rights and the internet, new threats to human rights that citizens are experiencing online, and how to bridge the normative gap when it comes to protecting human rights in the face of rapidly changing technology.

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How can we better protect people’s rights when technology rules?

Technologists, scholars, and civil rights activists discuss the importance of public interest technology.

What responsibility do technologists have for the technology they create? That was the subject of a Harvard Kennedy School panel that included expert technologists, scholars, and civil rights advocates.

The conversation featured Ash Carter , Belfer Professor of Technology and Global Affairs and director of the Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs ; Latanya Sweeney , professor of government and technology in residence at Harvard and director of Harvard’s Data Privacy Lab; Vanita Gupta, president and CEO The Leadership Conference, a civil rights advocacy coalition; and Reid Hoffman, co-founder and executive chairman of LinkedIn. Harvard Kennedy School lecturer in public policy David Eaves , an expert on technology and government, moderated the conversation.

Sweeney, a computer scientist who has served as chief technologist at the Federal Trade Commission, became interested in public interest technology while in graduate school at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. There she learned that health data collection methods made it possible for patients to be identified without their knowledge. She studied this problem and contributed to the development of de-identification provisions in health care legislation. “Technology is the new policymaker,” Sweeney observed. “We don’t vote for the people in Silicon Valley. Most of the time we don’t even know their names. But the arbitrary decisions they make in the technology they design dictate how we live our lives.”

Carter, who previously served as the U.S. secretary of defense, started his career in theoretical physics. He explained that his scientific mentors, who were of the Manhattan Project generation, took responsibility for their powerful inventions and that they “didn’t just stop with the bomb. They invented arms control, nonproliferation, missile defense, civil defense, reactor safety. They didn't just talk about it or be ethical about it, they invented.” Emphasizing the need to invent good policy solutions and consider the implications of technology, Carter said that many people are working on driverless cars, but fewer are thinking about what to do about the “carless driver.”

Hoffman, who is a technologist and Silicon Valley investor, emphasized the importance of designing systems that help both societies and individuals. As a student at Stanford University, he was driven by the question, “How do we help humanity evolve at scale?” Hoffman noted that, in conversations about how to hold technology companies accountable for their actions, it can be counterproductive to demonize these companies and that there are some ways in which the industry has become more accountable over time. Hoffman has worked on technology projects with a public interest focus, including initiatives related to veterans’ employment, and has served on the U.S. government’s Defense Innovation Board.

As president of a large civil rights coalition and as a civil rights lawyer, Gupta argued that civil rights principles should guide the development of technology and that there is a need for “more civil rights voices at the table” so that “we stop replicating decades of bias and injustice, and use technology, which is obviously a force for good, to be that force for good while preventing and mitigating the harms.” In discussing the lack of diversity in Silicon Valley, Gupta said, “It’s a real problem, and it’s a detriment to these companies, which often see themselves as deeply progressive and yet have these incredible blinders on.”

While the panelists spent much of the conversation discussing the challenges of implementing effective policy to protect people’s rights and serve the public interest, the discussion ended on a note of hope. Carter observed, “My experience over many decades of running technology projects is that mission spurs innovation. Making the world better, and making things truly just, and making public interest technology real, that’s a challenge that’s intellectually exciting. Mission motivates.” Eaves added to Carter’s message: “There’s a lot going on in the world, but it’s an exciting time. We have huge challenges, and I think that right now we're trying to articulate a mission around how we enable technology to serve us as a society, and not just us as individuals or us as companies, and I think that that is an exciting mission.” Speaking to the audience, Eaves added, “I hope that the flag of public interest technology is one that some of you will want to pick up.”

The discussion, titled “Crossing the Chasm: Why Now is the Time for Public Interest Technology,” was held at the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum on October 12.

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