The Historical Background and Development of Human Rights
HRV1601: Human Rights, Values and Social Transformation
Semester 01/ Assignment 01
The Historical Background and Development of Human Rights
Table of Contents
1) Introduction
2) The Development of Human Rights
3) Historical Documents of Human Rights
3.1) The English Bill of Rights (1689)
3.2) The American War of Independence (1775-1783)
4) Developing and Maintaining a Human Rights Culture in South Africa
5) The South African Constitution
6) The South African Bill of Rights
7) Conclusion
8) Bibliography
1. Introduction
A right is an inherent, irrevocable entitlement held by all human beings from the moment of birth. According to Ndungane (as stated in Slater 2010:19), “A human right is a right that a human person has simply by virtue of being a human person, irrespective of his or her social status, cultural accomplishments, moral merits, religious beliefs, class membership or cultural relationships”. Basic human rights are not earned or deserved, and should not be considered a privilege, but an imperative implement for the well-being and peacefulness of mankind. This essay explores the historical background and development of human rights and its incorporation into the South African Constitution.
2. The Development of Human Rights
To understand the essence of human rights and its incorporation into the South African Constitution, one must investigate its origin and the way it evolved over time. Although basic human rights can be traced back to and are entrenched in the Ten Commandments of the bible, they were only conceptualized in the 17th century as natural/ inalienable rights. A natural right can be regarded as a right to life, liberty and property. The concept of natural or fundamental rights was created to challenge the totalitarian reign of the monarchs in England. Even long before this, in the period of transoceanic expansion (15th and
Semester 01/ Assignment 01
The Historical Background and Development of Human Rights
Table of Contents
1) Introduction
2) The Development of Human Rights
3) Historical Documents of Human Rights
3.1) The English Bill of Rights (1689)
3.2) The American War of Independence (1775-1783)
4) Developing and Maintaining a Human Rights Culture in South Africa
5) The South African Constitution
6) The South African Bill of Rights
7) Conclusion
8) Bibliography
1. Introduction
A right is an inherent, irrevocable entitlement held by all human beings from the moment of birth. According to Ndungane (as stated in Slater 2010:19), “A human right is a right that a human person has simply by virtue of being a human person, irrespective of his or her social status, cultural accomplishments, moral merits, religious beliefs, class membership or cultural relationships”. Basic human rights are not earned or deserved, and should not be considered a privilege, but an imperative implement for the well-being and peacefulness of mankind. This essay explores the historical background and development of human rights and its incorporation into the South African Constitution.
2. The Development of Human Rights
To understand the essence of human rights and its incorporation into the South African Constitution, one must investigate its origin and the way it evolved over time. Although basic human rights can be traced back to and are entrenched in the Ten Commandments of the bible, they were only conceptualized in the 17th century as natural/ inalienable rights. A natural right can be regarded as a right to life, liberty and property. The concept of natural or fundamental rights was created to challenge the totalitarian reign of the monarchs in England. Even long before this, in the period of transoceanic expansion (15th and
Bibliography: Slater, J. 2010. Human rights, values and social transformation. Pretoria: University of South Africa. Locke, J. 1689. Two Treatises of Government. Awnsham Churchill. Juta. 2014. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. Juta Law.