Human rights are the principles that say that everyone is entitled to dignity from society, no matter their status. They include basic things like food and water, shelter and medical care. Of course, millions still don’t have those things but recognizing them as human rights gives activists and others the leverage to advocate for change.
Historically, the concept of human rights emerged in the 19th and 20th centuries, as international treaties began to address issues such as slavery, serfdom and brutal working conditions. These agreements were based on mutual obligations between states and focused mainly on state responsibility to protect the lives of its citizens.
In 1948, just after World War II, the UN created its Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), a document that for the first time set out globally agreed principles and standards which essentially say: “all humans are born free and equal” and no government has the right to deny or abuse them. It was the work of many delegates, with women in particular playing an important role, that ensured that this was true.
Since that time, there have been a number of other milestones including the creation in 1959 of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. This is a legal body which, in effect, enforces the rights set out in the UDHR. Individuals can bring a case to the court when their rights have been violated, much as they would approach a local courts for help with a domestic dispute.