what are human rights? Can they and should they be protected by legal instruments- such as US Bill of Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights?

Human Rights

A global human rights discourse remains hotly contested and continues to be studied by scholars of international law . Although many people talk about human rights and the importance of preserving them , few actually know how to define the term . The concept of human rights is best defined by the United Nations , which , in its Universal Declaration of Human Rights , contains 30 articles and emphasizes universal freedom and equality . Accordingly , this Declaration prohibits discrimination on the basis of race , color , sex , language , religion , political or other opinion , national or social

origin , property , birth or other status (United Nations 1948 . Seeing human rights as a common standard and guaranteeing rights in the political , social and economic realms , the Universal Declaration of Human Rights promotes the right to life liberty and the security of the person (3 , prohibits slavery (4 torture (5 ) and promotes the right to legal recognition before the law (6 . Although a full definition of the entire UN Declaration of Human Rights would be cumbersome here , it is important to keep the above concepts in mind with respect to the legal instruments established to safeguard and protect a common rights standard across the globe (United Nations , 1948

Seeking to address the protection of human rights in a cross-comparative manner , this essay will explore how human rights have been brought to the forefront of political discourse and subsequently safeguarded through legislative means . Arguing that legislative protection is necessary for the promotion and protection of human rights , this essay will...