Legal 2.1 The nature and development of human rights

human rights

rights that recognise the inherent value of each person, regardless of our background, where we live, what we look like, what we think or what we believe

rights

moral or legal entitlements about what a person is allowed to have

the Enlightenment

a European movement from the late 1600s to the early 1800s that transformed philosophy, science and politics by emphasising the superiority of reason over tradition and religion

abolitionism

a movement in the late 1700s and early 1800s, prominently in Western Europe and North America, to end slavery worldwide, that eventually brought an end to the trans-Atlantic slave trade

suffragettes

members of a movement for the right of all adult eomen to vote that reached its peak in the early 1900s

laws of war

a body of laws about how war should be conducted that originated with the Geneva Convention (1864), the Hague Convention and the final four-part Geneva Conventions (1949)- it is also known as the International Humanitarian Law

self-determination

the right of nations or peoples to have their own sovereign nation state with their own government

slavery

a type of forced labour in which a person is considered to be the legal property of another

transatlantic slave trade

the trading of African people by Europeans, who transported them as slaves from Africa to the colonies of the New World

human trafficking

the commercial trade or trafficking in human beings for the purpose of some form of slavery, usually recruiting, transporting or obtaining a person by force, coercion or deceptive means

Industrial Revolution

the rapid development of industry in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, characterised by changes in manufacturing, agriculture and transport

trade union

an organisation of workers created to preserve and further their rights and interests

International Labout Organization

an international agency of the United Nations, created with the aim of improving conditions for workers around the world

labour rights

rights at work, including the rights to safe working conditions, minimum wages and paid leave, and to join a trade union

International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966)

the binding international treaty creating obligations on states to respect the economic, social and cultural rights of individuals

suffrage

the legal right to vote in a democratic election

universal suffrage

the rights of all citizens to vote in political elections, regardless of status, gender, race or creed

universal education

free and compulsory education for all children

right to self-determination

the right of people to determine how they will be governed, or their politicsl statis based on territory or national grouping

collective right

a right belonging to a group or a people, as opposed to an individual right

Trusteeship Council

inactive since 1994 but originally responsible for overseeing the transition of United Nations trust territories to self-government after decolonisation

right to peace

the right of citizens to expect their government to do all in its power to maintain peace and work towards the eliminsation of war

soft law

international statements, such as declarations, that do not create legal obligations upon states but fo creat pressure to act in accordance with them

hard law

conventions and treaties that under international law create legally binding obligations

international customary law

actions and concepts that have developed over time to the extent that they are accepted by the international community and have become law

Non-Aligned Movement

a group of countries formed in 1952 that did not want to take sides in the Cold War

state parties

countries that have signed and ratified a treaty

coming into force or entry into force

occurs after a treaty has been signed and ratified and has legal force

Twin Covenants

the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966)

International Bill of Rights

combines The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) with the Twin Covenants