ppt on human rights and its evolution from ancient

ppt on human rights and its evolution from ancient

1. Ancient to LON, WW to UDHR- Evolution of HR Prepared By:- Resham Kunal Ashutosh

2. 1215 – The Magna Carta and Rule of Law The signing of the Magna Carta is one of the most famous stories in history. After all, it was the first significant record of the rule of law. The Magna Carta (also called “The Great Charter”) establishes that the monarch and their government are not above the law. While it didn’t necessarily propel human rights forward, the Magna Carta was a big deal. The Magna Carta established the rule of law and the idea that all citizens should be fairly and equally ruled by the law. It guaranteed the rights of women and children who inherited property, and stated that people could not be punished for crimes unless lawfully convicted. Magna Carta has had an enduring legacy that shaped human rights and freedoms, advancing ideas of freedom, justice, and the rule of law. It became a symbol for subjecting powerful rulers to law and fundamental rights.

3. 1689 – English Bill of Rights The English Bill of Rights is best known as the document that establishes Parliamentary privilege. However, there is a lot more to this piece of parchment than just that! The English Bill of Rights stated that there could be no taxation without representation (in Parliament), freedom from government interference, the right to petition, and equal treatment in the court system. Furthermore, other human rights were granted to civilians, such as no cruel and unusual punishment and the right to free speech.

4. 1789 - French Revolution The French Revolution holds a place of prominence in the history, celebrated for its profound impact on the course of modern civilization. Its fame stems not only from the dramatic events and transformative ideas it unleashed but also from its enduring influence on political thought, social reform, and the global struggle for justice and equality. This period of intense upheaval and radical change challenged the very foundations of society, dismantling centuries-old institutions and laying the groundwork for a new era defined by the principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity.

5. 1625 – Hugo Grotius and International Law Hugo Grotius (1583-1645) is considered the father of international law. So, you’ve probably guessed it: the consensus is that Grotius laid the foundations of modern international law. He was a Dutch juror, a poet, and a massive fan of Greek and Roman philosophy. In the groundbreaking novel On the Laws of War and Peace (1625), Grotius boldly attempts to find a middle ground between natural law and the laws of nations. Accordingly, the most-favored idealist view is counteractive, but absolute realism is also unacceptable. Wars will happen, but the standard of warfare is determined by international law; likewise, the treatment of minorities is up to review from the international stage

6. 1919 – Peace Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations the end of the war, drafting a peace treaty was only one of the many hurdles that nations had to contend with. The biggest issue is that no one could agree on how to treat Germany and other Central powers. What ended up happening was a significant stripping of territory, a reduction of military forces, and a reparations bill that was astronomical. The peace that came with the Treaty of Versailles was fragile at best. From the treaty came the League of Nations, founded by the 28th U.S. President, Woodrow Wilson. In all, 63 countries were a part of the League: this was a majority of sovereign nations in 1920. The League of Nations was the first international congregation of nations and was developed to help achieve international peace.

7. . International Labor Organization The International Labor Organization (ILO) was founded by the Paris Peace Conference in 1919. It became a mainstay in the later United Nations. As it stands, the International Labor Organization safeguards social and economic rights by setting international labor standards. Protection of Minorities Humanitarian conditions were not a driving principle sought to be upheld by the League of Nations. Instead, the League was formed to maintain the status quo following the Allied victory in World War I (Justifications of Minority Protections in International Law, 1997). That being said, the legitimate international concern of another world war happening did provide substantial reasoning to address some amount of human rights.

8. 1945 – Post-WWII and the United Nations World War II, as with the First World War, saw a slew of human rights violations. To be fair, most wars – major and minor – are breeding grounds for such infringements. Supposed “gentlemen wars” are a thing of the past, if not nearer to pure fantasy. The United Nations was founded in 1945, a month after the end of World War II. To say there was global devastation would be an understatement: roughly 3% of the world’s population died. The United Nations Charter is the founding document of the U.N., signed in 1945. The Charter itself is considered to be an international treaty, legally binding involving countries to oblige by any laws passed. Since its initial signing in 1945, the United Nations Charter has been amended three times.

9. Commission of Human Rights One of the more significant creations post-WWII is the Commission of Human Rights. Emerging in 1946, the Commission is responsible for protecting fundamental freedoms. There are numerous themes that the Commission of Human Rights handles. An example is the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. The Commission opens the declaration with 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.” Right off the bat, the Commission acknowledges that there are certain fundamental human rights that must be recognized. The inclusion of civil and political rights, and economic, social, and cultural rights, among others, have been later added per the Commission.

10. 1948 – Universal Declaration of Human Rights The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a significant landmark in the history of human rights. It has acted as a model document for several “domestic constitutions, laws, regulations, and policies” according to Hurst Hannum in “The UDHR in National and International Law” (Health and Human Rights, 1998). Despite this, the UDHR is not a legally binding document; at least not in whole. However, the Declaration has been incorporated into most constitutions of the nations belonging to the UN. All things considered, the UDHR is a customary international law. Everyone understands, acknowledges, and respects the Declaration (at least those 193 states and countries within the United Nations). It was drafted for bolstering international peace, after all.

11. Reference https://historycooperative.org/history-of-human-rights/ https://www.britannica.com/summary/Magna-Carta-Key-Facts https://historycooperative.org/the-french-revolution/ https://www.britannica.com/topic/League-of-Nations

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