Human rights are a set of moral principles that establish standards for people’s behaviour. They cover civil, political, economic and cultural freedoms, as well as protection against discrimination, exploitation and abuse. Traditionally they are understood as inherent and inalienable – that is, they belong to all people by virtue of their humanity and can never be taken away. They are universal, indivisible and interdependent – that is, making progress in one area makes it easier to advance in another area.
While the idea of a common standard of human rights is widely accepted, there are many differences of opinion about how to implement and protect them. Some views, such as cultural relativism, assert that human rights are inappropriate for some cultures and may conflict with traditional or religious practices. However, human rights remain a major focus of international relations and are protected by treaties, global institutions and organisations.
The most important multilateral human rights treaty is the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which was drafted in 1948 after World War II and the Holocaust, and is recognised as the standard of achievement for all States. The UDHR and its Optional Protocols contain legally binding commitments that States must uphold. The UDHR and its protocols are monitored by the United Nations Human Rights Council, which has 47 members elected for three-year terms. The Council also has 46 independent experts with thematic or country mandates who can investigate and report on specific human rights situations.