The document discusses the evolution of human rights throughout history. It outlines some early legal codes and documents from 2000 BC to the 15th century that promoted justice and protected certain rights. It then focuses on the creation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 by the UN as a response to the human rights violations during World War 2. The UDHR established 30 basic human rights that all people are entitled to regardless of race, religion, or nationality.

1. Citizen Rights
1) Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in their country.
2) Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to
law in a public trial at which they have all the guarantees necessary for their defence.
3) Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.
4) Everyone has the right to protection of intellectual property.
5) Everyone has the right to education.
6) Everyone has the right to health.
7) Everyone has the right to work, under fair conditions.
8) Everyone has the right to information.
9) Everyone has the right to marriage and family.
10) Everyone has the right to recognition in law.
11) Everyone has the right to benefit from science.
12) Everyone has the right to be treated equally in law
The Evolution of the Concept of Human Rights
The concept of Human Rights has evolved over thousands of years. It can be traced back to different civilizations,
philosophies and religions. Throughout history, when concerned people experienced and observed injustice,
torture and slavery in their surroundings they responded with the call for specific rights so as to promote justice
and human dignity. Let us look at a few key legal documents of the past in which the values of human rights were
discussed. The Babylonian King, Hammurabi (2000 B.C.) established a legal code which stated, ‘…to make
justice reign, in the kingdom, to destroy the wicked and violent, to prevent the strong from oppressing the weak…
to enlighten the country and promote the good of the people’. Other documents over the centuries such as the
Charter of Cyrus (570 B.C.),the Last Sermon of Prophet Muhammad (632 CE) and the Magna Carta of 1215 CE
provided laws and rules for human rights’ protection. More recent documents like the French Declaration of the
Rights of Man and Citizen in 1789 and the American Bill of Rights in 1791 also ensured certain rights.
Nevertheless,the most important period for the development of a universal legal document of human rights was at
the end of the Second World War. The war made people around the world realize that human rights violations in
one country affect other countries and that the concept of human rights is closely linked with peace and security in
the world. Hence there was a need for a legal universal document which would guarantee the maintenance of
international peace and security of the world.
On December 10, 1948, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) presented a document
called the Universal Declaration ofHuman Rights (UDHR) to the GeneralAssembly of the United Nations
where it was adopted. The UDHR is divided into two sections: the preamble which describes the reasons why the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights was created and the 30 Articles which enshrine the rights of all human
beings in the world. The articles of the UDHR entitle all human beings, irrespective of their race,colour,
nationality, social origin, gender, language and geographical location, to the Right to Security (Article 1), Life and
Liberty (Article 3), the Right to a Nationality (Article 15), the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression
(Article 19), the Right to Education (Article 26), the Right to an Adequate Standard of Living (Article 25), the
Right to Take Part in the Government of his/her Country (directly or through freely chosen representatives)
(Article 21) and others. Although, the UDHR is a statement of principles and not a legally binding document, its
principles became a basis for and are reflected in national constitutions and municipal laws of different countries.
In addition, the UDHR is a yardstick that can be used to evaluate the practice and protection of human rights all
over the world. Presently, the UNCHR facilitates the works and activities to promote and protect the human rights
of all people around the world.
Excerpted from B. L. Dean,R. Joldoshalieva, and F. Sayani, Creating a Better World (Karachi:Aga Khan
University Institute for Educational Development, 2006).

2. Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Summary of Preamble
The General Assembly recognizes that the inherent dignity and the equal and inalienable rights of all members of
the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world, human rights should be protected
by the rule of law, friendly relations between nations must be fostered, the peoples of the UN have affirmed their
faith in human rights, the dignity and the worth of the human person, the equal rights of men and women and are
determined to promote social progress, better standards of life and larger freedom and have promised to promote
human rights and a common understanding of these rights.
A summary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
1) Everyone is free and we should all be treated in the same way.
2) Everyone is equal despite differences in skin colour, sex, religion, language for example.
3) Everyone has the right to life and to live in freedom and safety.
4) No one has the right to treat you as a slave nor should you make anyone your slave.
5) No one has the right to hurt you or to torture you.
6) Everyone has the right to be treated equally by the law.
7) The law is the same for everyone, it should be applied in the same way to all.
8) Everyone has the right to ask for legal help when their rights are not respected.
9) No one has the right to imprison you unjustly or expel you from your own country.
10) Everyone has the right to a fair and public trial.
11) Everyone should be considered innocent until guilt is proved.
12) Everyone has the right to ask for help if someone tries to harm you, but no-one can enter your home, open
your letters or bother you or your family without a good reason.
13) Everyone has the right to travel as they wish.
14) Everyone has the right to go to another country and ask for protection if they are being persecuted or are in
danger of being persecuted.
15) Everyone has the right to belong to a country. No one has the right to prevent you from belonging to another
country if you wish to.
16) Everyone has the right to marry and have a family.
17) Everyone has the right to own property and possessions.
18) Everyone has the right to practice and observe all aspects of their own religion and change their religion if
they want to.
19) Everyone has the right to say what they think and to give and receive information.
20) Everyone has the right to take part in meetings and to join associations in a peacefulway.
21) Everyone has the right to help choose and take part in the government of their country.
22) Everyone has the right to social security and to opportunities to develop their skills.
23) Everyone has the right to work for a fair wage in a safe environment and to join a trade union.
24) Everyone has the right to rest and leisure.
25) Everyone has the right to an adequate standard of living and medical help if they are ill.
26) Everyone has the right to go to school.
27) Everyone has the right to share in their community’s cultural life.
28) Everyone must respect the ‘social order’ that is necessary for all these rights to be available.
29) Everyone must respect the rights of others, the community and public property.
30) No one has the right to take away any of the rights in this declaration.