How have human rights evolved historically?

Human rights have evolved historically through various stages, from natural rights philosophy to codified international law.

The concept of human rights has its roots in ancient civilisations, but it was during the Enlightenment era in the 17th and 18th centuries that the idea began to take a more defined shape. Philosophers such as John Locke and Thomas Hobbes proposed the concept of 'natural rights', which were inherent to all individuals regardless of their status or position. These rights included life, liberty, and property, and were seen as inviolable and universal.

The French Revolution in the late 18th century marked a significant turning point in the evolution of human rights. The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, adopted in 1789, was one of the first documents to codify these rights into law. It asserted the principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity, and laid the groundwork for modern human rights.

The horrors of the two World Wars in the 20th century led to a renewed focus on human rights. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the United Nations in 1948, was a landmark document that outlined a broad range of rights, including civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights. This was followed by various international treaties and conventions, such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which further expanded and detailed these rights.

In recent decades, the concept of human rights has continued to evolve and expand. New categories of rights have been recognised, such as the rights of indigenous peoples, the rights of persons with disabilities, and LGBT rights. There has also been a growing emphasis on 'third generation' rights, which include collective and developmental rights, such as the right to a healthy environment and the right to development.

Overall, the evolution of human rights has been a process of continual expansion and refinement, driven by changing societal values and the ongoing struggle for justice and equality.