ACHIEVEMENTS OF HUMAN RIGHTS

Achievements of Human Rights

Achievements of Human Rights

Introduction

Human rights are defined as the conditions that create an integrated relationship between the individual and society, allowing individuals to identify themselves and their rights (Brooks 1999, p.96). In the twentieth century the international community embraced human rights as a way to promote justice for individuals in communities around the world. As the standards were promulgated, scholars raised questions about the origins of the idea, the conceptual boundaries of such rights, methods of enforcement, and the potential impact of human rights in the future. Although international human rights norms are widely accepted, their interpretation and enforcement remain controversial. Sometimes governmental officials have manipulated the standards to avoid being held accountable, claiming that human rights are incompatible with their own political traditions (Forsythe 2009, p.13). The fundamental dilemma for human rights is that states play a dual role: They are expected to uphold human rights standards, but at the same time they are usually the perpetrators of gross violations of human rights.

Jurists point to other bodies of public international law to show that precursors of human rights exist. Other branches of international law generated humanitarian principles that are considered historical antecedents to twentieth-century human rights standards. For instance, the notion that torturing prisoners of war is strictly prohibited is one such norm. Other ancient ideas that are part of the customary law of war support the general idea that individuals, even if they are enemies, should be treated with dignity (Salkind 2006, p. 18). International humanitarian law is not the only field containing norms that are related to modern human rights norms. The duty of states to safeguard the rights of aliens is another; states must ensure that no harm comes to aliens while they reside within a state's borders, that no unjustified expropriation of property occurs, and the like. It often also is claimed that the standards set by the International Labour Organization should be considered the first human rights instruments.

Discussion

Future Challenges

Human rights are complex laws in which issues and challenges are keep on evolving. These issues range from terrorism to climatic variation, from urbanization to economic and food issues. Human rights are facing and will continue to face these types of challenges which were not predicted when the law of human right was about to pass (Langwith 2008, p.56). Human Right law acts as an international platform to act as a medium, resolver and catalyst in order to tackle the coming challenges in an effective manner. With the rapid growth in population throughout the world mainly in developing countries, hunger and poverty is becoming a basic concern.

Another crucial challenge for the international human law is the removal of the evil element of discrimination and racism. Although, it is quite an old problem, but its proper solution is not available because most of the states claim that the issue has been resolved. The social movements for new instruments have occurred with little coordination or realization of the tensions between ...