Human Rights - Questions and Answers

The history of mankind is marked by efforts to ensure respect for the dignity of human beings. The concept of human rights was introduced and developed by thinkers from various cultural and religious traditions. An important contribution to the promotion of this idea was made by states men and lawyers and written norms establishing protection of the rights of individuals were gradually inscribed in national laws.

Steps were also taken to establish international human rights standards, in particular in the nineteenth century and after the First World War. However, it was only in the second half of the twentieth century that a comprehensive international system of human rights promotion and protection was set up. This was mainly due to the efforts of the United Nations, its Specialized Agencies and regional intergovernmental organizations.

The Charter of the United Nations expressed the de termination of Member States 'to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the hu man person, in the equal rights of men and women. The Second World War proved that internal massive violations of human rights lead to the breach of international peace. The horrors of this war confirmed and strengthened the belief that 'the recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.

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