International Human Rights - Essay Help

History of Human Rights:

The concept that an individual has an array of rights merely on the bases of being a human started in the renaissance period that is the Early Modern era. Before this era, Habeas Corpus (an ancient law in which the judge needs evidence to prove whether the accused is guilty or not)1 had been cherished in the Magna Carta (an agreement between the commoners and King John and the agreement stated that the King would rule Britain and the citizens keeping in mind the medieval laws)1 in 1215 A.D. The concept of human rights became an integral part of the 18th century due to the civil wars in the 17th century in England that was the main reason for the uprising of liberalism and a staunch belief in human rights by the people. The notion of human rights has its roots in French and American revolt that introduced a period of democratic uprising during the 19th century that provided the right to vote2. The two deadly wars in the 20th century was the reason for the introduction of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. There were several social movements for human rights after the war that were giving basic rights to women and African Americans. The concept, human rights is of a modern era but its roots are enriched in the past. The sequential past of Human Rights can be seen from three different stages conferring to the acknowledgment and development2. The stages are as follows:

The Ancient Age 

This age was from before A.D. that is 500 years before it to the fourth century2. During that era, slavery was a common practice and a slave was looked down upon. They weren’t considered human but as they were someone’s possession and weren’t even provided with the basic desires like food, shelter, and clothing. The slaves did not have the basic rights and freedom to live accordingly to their will. 

Many historians found the oldest civilizations namely Summerian Code of Ur Nammu, the codex of Lipit Ishtae and the Akkadian Laws of Eshnunna. During this, the concept of equality surfaced in Greece and became popular among the masses3.

According to the history, Persian Rule introduced extraordinary philosophies of human rights in the sixth century BC under the rule of Cyrus3. After the battle of Babylon, the king of Persia declared ‘Cyrus cylinder’ that was revealed in 18792 and was one of the first text for human rights. Cyrus also freed many Jews that were captured in the battle majority of there prisoners were women and children3 which tells us that equality also prevailed in the earlier times. 

The Middle Age 

Magna Carta was the most significant stage of this age to encourage human rights. It was a legitimate agreement approved by the King in 1215 A.D. and was once again adopted by King Edward the third. This agreement made it mandatory for the ruler to relinquish some rights, respect some laws and admit that the willpower of the Ruler could be compelled by the legal code. In the agreement, there are sixty-three articles involving a preface, among these articles the most important are Article thirty-nine that states that an innocent shall not get detained or restrained or banned or banished or get hurt in any way. The body won’t go against him or lead others to go against him, except if he is proven guilty according to the legal code and forty reported that the body will provide the right of justice to everyone and won’t refuse their basic right4.

The agreement, Magna Carta was one of the earliest versions of the human rights framework that promised citizens with liberalism. This had a positive impact on numerous other texts and legal codes like the US Constitution and Bill of Rights that is seen as one of the most significant agreements in history. Magna Carta was the bases of the frameworks for human rights operating currently.