Ethical Moorings: Philosophical & Religious Foundation of Human Rights

Ethical Moorings: Philosophical & Religious Foundation of Human Rights

Introduction

Human rights are about providing equal rights and freedom to all the people without any discrimination. These rights were introduced to bring fairness, equality, freedom of though and speech, dignity, and respect to each and every person (EHRC, 2008). The emergence of Universal Human Rights gave rise to equality and liberty of people without discrimination based on sex, race, language, and others. Considering the immense significance of Human Rights, various Human Rights acts and laws have been developed by United Nations and applied in its member states. However, the world can still see violation of human rights in some areas, including violation of human rights of African American community due to color caste system. So, there are still some lacking as far as Human Rights are concerned, and thereby this paper illustrates a policy-oriented perspective on Human Rights to the United Nation, with African American community context.

Discussion

Meaning of Human Rights In Terms Of Shaping & Sharing Values

Warren Christopher addressed to the World Conference on Human Rights in 1993 that we respect the social, religious, and cultural elements which make each country unique; however, we cannot let cultural relativism happen to be the last sanctuary of repression (Sarat & Kearns, 2002). Human rights were developed in order to bring the principles of fairness, respect, equality, autonomy, and dignity to life by setting out s series of rights and freedoms that overall humanity is entitled to as an outcome of our shared humanity. Human rights, at their most basic, are about how humans treat each other. As a consequence, they are specifically significant of some of the less powerful or more vulnerable people in our society, for example people in care, people with learning disability, or young children (EHRC, 2008).

The concept and understanding of Human Rights clearly makes it evident that human rights play a vital role in shaping and sharing values not only in societal perspective but in universal terms. Human rights governs us about equality by stating that everyone is entitled to equal rights and freedom without any discrimination based on race, religion, language, gender, and others. These rights ensure peace and freedom by eliminating suppression and oppression in society. It governs us not to seek our own interests at the cost of other people's rights (Gyatso, 2008). Thus, human rights shape our shared values by entitling us to treat each and every person equally without any time of discrimination.

Human rights play a significant part in sharing values, as our rich diversity of religions and culture throughout the world helps to strengthen fundamental human rights in all communities. Underlying this human diversity is essential human standard that connects us all together as members of the same family. The philosophy of human rights is so fundamentally significant that makes us all having same views about it. So, human rights laws are also implemented universally with the same perception and ...