Human Rights concept is nowadays connected to theUniversal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), and yet, there was a great historic-cultural evolution to reach this important document.

Without deepening too much the historical initiatives on advances of some rights that have occurred throughout time, it is worth mentioning the Magna Carta Libertatum or ‘Great Charter of Freedoms’, a Royal Charter of Rights accepted by King John of England in 1215, which limited the Monarchy absolute power and consecrated some political rights to the English people. Later on, the Declaration of Rights of 1689, cemented the subjugation of the Monarchy to the Parliament and constituted one of the pillars of the constitutional system of the United Kingdom.

In 1776, the United States Declaration of Independence, emphasis the notion that all human beings are created equally and are endowed of inalienable rights.

Thirteen years later, in 1789, the French Revolution and the creation and ratification of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen established the equality of Men and of the inalienable rights, or natural rights that Man has.

Eleanor Roosevelt a segurar um poster da Declaração Universal dos Direitos Humanos
Eleanor Roosevelt a segurar um poster da Declaração Universal dos Direitos Humanos / Foto: FDR Presidential Library & Museum

After the fall of some colonial empires and two World Wars that caused hideous atrocities and great number of dead, Mankind managed to come together in one of its most time of need and hope to found the United Nations Organization and sign its constitutive Charter in 1945, in San Francisco, that intended, amongst others: “reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom”

With the foundation of the UNO and with Eleanor Roosevelt support, it was possible to gather consensus on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) which was proclaimed by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 10th December 1948, in Paris.

Finally, Human Rights truly embarked all Humanity and not only some European countries, overpassing the differences amongst countries and folks. The first article is emblematic of the spirit that embodied.

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

The Declaration has a Preamble and thirty articles, bonding the Human Rights and foreseeing two rights: Human beings shall act in brotherhood spirit to each other and no disposition of the Declaration may be interpreted and use to destroy the freedoms listed in it.

Although the Universal Declaration of Human Rights has no inforce power, it inspired several national constitutions and international pacts and conventions. Being a magisterial document on Human Rights defence, it is in constant crescendo due to the constant human society evolution.

Some inalienable Rights of everyone:

Right to
Security and Physical Integrity
Right to
Human Dignity
Right to
Equal Opportunities
Right to
Civic Participation and Active Citizenship
Right to
Culture and Education
Right to
Work
Right to
Health
Right to
Social Security
Right to
Housing
Right to
Civic, Politics and Religious Freedom of Speech
Right to
Information
Right to
Safe and Balanced Environment
Right to
Cultural Patrimony

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