A HISTORY OF HUMAN RIGHTS

Key human rights milestones throughout history

THE CYRUS CYLINDER – c539-530BCCyrus II, King of Persia, began his reign by decreeing reforms on this clay cylinder. Most notably, he declared that exiled slaves could return to their homelands and implies that there will be religious freedom throughout the Persian Empire

Image:

Front of the

Cyrus CylinderCreative Commons - Prioryman

Source: The British Museum

THE MAGNA CARTA - 1215

This Great Charter provided a new framework for the relationship between the King and his subjects. It established for the first time that everybody, including the king, was subject to the law. Most famously, it gave all ‘free men’ the right to justice and a fair trial.

Image: King John of England signing Magna Carta on June 15, 1215, at Runnymede

Source: The British Library

THE PETITION OF RIGHT - 1628

This petition was sent by the English Parliament to King Charles I. It included the demands that the King could not tax the people without the Parliament’s consent nor imprison people without cause.

Image: Portrait of King Charles I in his robes

of state (copy of original by Anthony van Dyck)

Source: Britannica

THE BILL OF RIGHTS - 1689

This English document set out political and civil rights, including the freedom to elect Members of Parliament, the protection of free speech in Parliament and that the king or queen could not interfere with the law.

Image: The English Bill of

Rights 1689. National Archives of the United Kingdom

Source: British Library

THE DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS OF MAN AND OF THE CITIZEN - 1789

This French Declaration set out the universal and inalienable rights of men/citizens (not women unfortunately!) It stated that all are born equal and free, all can participate in civil and political life, can think and speak freely, be presumed innocent until proven guilty and that all have the right to own private property.

Image: The Rights of Man and of the Citizen

Source: Britannica

THE U.S. BILL OF RIGHTS – 1789

This is made up of the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution. These include the freedoms of speech, press and assembly, the right to a fair trial and freedom from unreasonable search and seizure. Image: Bill of Rights 1789

National Archives and Records Administration

Source – Bill of Rights Institute

THE GENEVA CONVENTIONS – 1864-1977

These treaties focused on alleviating the effects of war on soldiers and civilians. The conventions state the neutral status of the sick and wounded, allow the provision of protection and relief for the wounded and establish the humane treatment of prisoners of war.

Image: German Red Cross nurses

during WWI in 1915 attending to

wounded soldiersUnknown photographer. German Red Cross

Source: Britannica

WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE - 1893

After years of effort by suffrage campaigners led by Kate Sheppard, women won the right to vote in September 1893. New Zealand became the first independent country where women could vote in parliamentary elections.

Image: Kate SheppardPhoto from 1905, photographer unknown

Source: NZ History

THE UNITED NATIONS - 1945The United Nations was established following the devastation of lives and property in World Wars One and Two.

“We the peoples of the United Nations are determined to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind.” Image: Flag of the United Nations

Source: The United Nations

THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS - 1948

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is part of the International Bill of Human Rights. The thirty articles cover the rights of the individual such as the freedom from slavery; political and civil rights such as the freedoms of speech and association; and economic, social and cultural rights such as the right to education and adequate housing.

In 1948 New Zealand lobbied to ensure “freedom from want” was alongside rights such as freedom of speech and freedom from torture.

Image: Plaque of the UDHR in

front of the Joukyou Gimin

Memorial Museum, JapanOwner - HappyBD58. Licenced under CC BY-SA 3.0

via Wikimedia Commons

Source: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL - 1961In 1961, British lawyer Peter Benenson was outraged when two Portuguese students were jailed just for raising a toast to freedom. He wrote an article and launched a campaign that provoked an incredible response across the world.

Benenson’s call to action sparked the idea that people everywhere can unite in solidarity for justice and freedom. Amnesty International was founded and is now the world’s largest human rights organisation.

Image: Amnesty International logo

Source: Amnesty International

THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS – 1976

This covenant is also part of the International Bill of Rights. It covers civil and political rights such as the right to life and liberty, political participation and non-discrimination.

New Zealand has many these rights written into its Bill of Rights.

Image: Torture Reconstruction.

Amnesty International.

Source: The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS - 1966This covenant is part of the International Bill of Rights, along with its equivalent on civil and political rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

It covers economic, social and cultural rights such as the right to work for fair wages, holiday and leisure time, the protection of the family and the right to adequate food, housing and clothing.

New Zealand ratified the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) in 1978.

Image: Roma children at schoolAmnesty International

Source: Economic Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

NEW ZEALAND BILL OF RIGHTS ACT - 1990The New Zealand Bill of Rights Act (1990) sets out the rights and freedoms of anyone subject to NZ law. It focuses on civil and political rights, such as freedom from torture, the right to vote, freedom of movement and the right to a fair trial.

However, economic, social and cultural rights such as access to healthcare and the right to adequate housing are not fully protected in this.Image: The New Zealand Coat of Arms

Source: New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990

YOUNG NEW ZEALANDERS - TODAYIn classrooms and beyond across New Zealand, young people like you are learning about their human rights and the rights of others, why these rights must be defended and protected, and they are also taking action to promote human rights for all!

Images: New Zealand teenagers

taking action together for human

rights in 2015Amnesty International

REFERENCES• The British Museum. (n.d.) The British Museum. Cyrus Cylinder. Retrieved from

http://www.britishmuseum.org/about_us/news_and_press/statements/cyrus_cylinder.aspx

• Prioryman. (26 May 2012). Cyrus Cylinder Front. Retrieved from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cyrus_Cylinder_front.jpg

• The British Library. (n.d.) The Magna Carta. Retrieved from http://www.bl.uk/magna-carta/articles/magna-carta-an-introduction

• Unknown. (1800s). King John of England signing Magna Carta on June 15, 1215, at Runnymede. Coloured Wood Engraving. Retrieved from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:John,_Magna_Carta.jpg

• Britannica. (n.d.) The Petition of Right (1628). Retrieved from http://www.britannica.com/topic/Petition-of-Right-British-history

• Follower of Anthony van Dyke. (1636). Portrait of King Charles I in his robes of state. Retrieved from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:King_Charles_I_after_original_by_van_Dyck.jpg

• The British Library. (n.d.) Taking Liberties: Bill of Rights. Retrieved from http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/takingliberties/staritems/510billofrights.html

• National Archives of the United Kingdom. (December 1689). Image: The English Bill of Rights 1689. Retrieved from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:English_Bill_of_Rights_of_1689.jpg

• Britannica. (n.d) Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. Retrieved from http://www.britannica.com/topic/Declaration-of-the-Rights-of-Man-and-of-the-Citizen

• Bibliotheque nationale de France. (n.d.) Les Droits de l’Home et du Citoyen. Retrieved from http://libriaurei.net/2012/09/26/the-declaration-of-the-rights-of-man-and-the-citizen/

• Bill of Rights Institute. (n.d.) Bill of Rights of the United States of America (1791). Retrieved from http://www.billofrightsinstitute.org/founding-documents/bill-of-rights/

• James Madison, National Archives. (n.d.) United States Bill of Rights. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Bill_of_Rights

• Britannica. (n.d.) The Geneva Conventions. Retrieved from http://www.britannica.com/event/Geneva-Conventions

• Red Cross. (1915). German Red Cross nurses during WWI in 1915, attending to wounded soldiers. Retrieved from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:German_Red_Cross_nurses_during_WWI_in_1915_attending_to_wounded_soldiers.jpeg

• NZ History. (n.d.) Women and the vote. Retrieved from http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/politics/womens-suffrage

• Unknown. (1905). Kate Sheppard. Retrieved from https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/60/Kate_Sheppard.jpg

• The United Nations. (n.d.) The United Nations. Retrieved from www.un.org

• The United Nations. (n.d.) The Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Retrieved from http://www.un.org/en/universal-declaration-human-rights/index.html

• HappyBD58, Wikimedia Commons. (11 May 2009). Close-up view of the plaque of the UDHR (in both English and Japanese) in front of the Joukyou Gimin Memorial Museum. Retrieved from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Plaque_of_the_UDHR_in_front_of_the_Joukyou_Gimin_Memorial_Museum.JPG

• Amnesty International. (n.d.) Who We Are. Retrieved from https://www.amnesty.org/en/who-we-are/

• United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. (n.d.)The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 1976. Retrieved from http://www.ohchr.org/en/professionalinterest/pages/ccpr.aspx

• Amnesty International. (1 April 2015). Torture Reconstruction. ADAM ID: 210116

• United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. (n.d.) Economic Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 1976. Sourced from: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/CESCR.aspx

• Amnesty International. (22 April 2015). Roma children at school. ADAM ID 209929

• New Zealand Legislation. (n.d.). New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990. Retrieved from: http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1990/0109/latest/DLM224792.html

• Amnesty International. (June 2015). Auckland secondary students plan for Freedom Challenge 2015.

• Amnesty International. (August 2015). Gracy and Nelson College for Girls writing postcards to Double the Quota.