Human rights are a set of principles which recognise that every person is born free and equal in dignity and worth. They are fundamental and indivisible, and cannot be surrendered or derogated from. They include a right to life, liberty and security of person, as well as the right to freedom of speech, religion and a private property.
The word ‘human rights’ has been in use since the end of World War II and the adoption by the UN General Assembly of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in 1948. It replaced the term ‘natural rights’ which had fallen out of favour in the 19th century, following the rise of a philosophy called legal positivism, which rejected the theory that law must be moral to be valid.
Writing a research paper in the field of human rights can be challenging because the topic is complex. It is recommended to find a narrow focus and to write your essay with an underlying theme that you are interested in. This will help you to stay organized and focused while researching your topic.
This year, our focus is on people, like the Indigenous reindeer herder who’s fighting to protect her land in Norway or the photojournalist jailed for exposing flood disasters in Myanmar or the boy whose life was taken by female genital cutting in South Africa. Their stories are connected by one thing – their human rights were violated. By writing letters and signing petitions, you can make a difference.