History of Human Rights
After World War II, the United Nations was established to maintain international peace and security and find solutions for global economic and humanitarian problems.
The United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration on Human Rights in 1948, which listed the human rights that each individual in the world should have. The Universal Declaration set the benchmark for many treaties and agreements to be created in the later years, including:
-The European Convention on Human Rights, 1950
-The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) 1966
-The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD) 1965
-The Convention Against Torture (CAT) 1984
-The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) 1989
-The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2008)
These are legally binding agreements between countries which are enforceable by law. Countries must protect the rights of their citizens and enshrine these rights in law.
Human Rights in Europe
In Europe after the Second World War, as European countries were rebuilding, a Council of Europe was established in 1948. The purpose of the Council was to achieve a greater unity between members; safeguard and realise the ideals and principles which are their common heritage; and facilitate their economic and social progress.
The European Convention on Human Rights was adopted under the auspices of the Council of Europe in 1950. This Convention led to the establishment of the European Court of Human Rights, to protect individuals from human rights violations in Europe. The Convention is the only international human rights agreement that offers a high degree of individual protection. Today the European Court of Human Rights is based in Strasbourg France, and since 1998 the court has introduced full time judges to address cases brought by member state parties or by individuals from the member states.
Northern Ireland Human Rights Legislation
To be protected as a human being with rights in Northern Ireland, we are supported by the Human Rights Act 1998 which came into effect on October 2000. This Act is an Act of the UK Parliament, which has incorporated the European Convention on Human Rights into law in the United Kingdom (UK).
The adoption of the European Convention on Human Rights has enabled people from Northern Ireland to take cases to the European Court of Human Rights since 1960 if they felt their human rights were not being upheld in the UK Court. Today individuals living in Northern Ireland can make a complaint to their local courts on the failure of public authorities to uphold their human rights in relation to functions of a public nature. The introduction of the Human Rights 1998 Act has allowed this. However if an individual feels their human rights have been violated by their member state, then they have the potential go to the European Court of Human Rights
