Human rights

The Declaration, which arose directly from the experience of the Second World War represents the first global expression of rights to which all human beings are inherently entitled.

The Declaration of Human Rights is the most translated document in the world. It is even in the Guinness Book of Records.

The human rights protect our civic, political, economic, social and cultural rights. But no matter what kind of right is at stake, there are these three principles, which are always part of human rights standards and their realisation. Find more information in the first section of the module.

Human rights are universal to all persons in the world, this principle is also embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, in its Preamble as well as in other articles, such as article 2

Magna Carta Libertatum was the first document forced onto a King of England by a group of his subjects, the feudal barons, in an attempt to limit his powers by law and protect their rights.

He was a man of science in Andalusia (today Spain) and famous for his wisdom and knowledge. In that time the “civilisation hotspot” was located around the Mediterranean sea. The north of Europe was far away from being this advanced in terms of knowledge.

Most countries in the EU have the human rights in their constitutions, which cannot be legislatively changed easily. Thus it guarantees that the rights will be properly realised. The United Kingdom is one known exception, where there is no special constitution and human rights are at the same level as ordinary legislation.

„All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.“ (Art. 7, Universal Declaration of Human Rights).