1 ,2 3

ST ND RD The traditional categorization of three generations

of human rights traces the chronological evolution

GENERATION OF RIGHTS
of human rights as a response to the biggest
societal challenges and changes at the time – the
categories are, however, not clear-cut, but simply
one way of classifying the different rights.

1 ST GENERATION
OF RIGHTS
CIVIL RIGHTS
Civil Rights are for example the rights to equality
These rights emerged during the 17 and 18
th th
and liberty, the freedom to religion or to expression,
centuries and were based mostly on political
concerns. There was a growing demand for a limitation the right to life, the right to liberty, the right to a
of the all-powerful State and for more influence by the fair trial and the prohibition of torture.
people on State policies that affected them.

The so-called “first generation rights” were conceived primarily

as rights against the State – protecting the individual against
undue interference by the State and its organs. POLITICAL RIGHTS
At the UN level, civil and political rights are for example enshrined in Political Rights are necessary in order to
the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights from 1966. participate in the life of the community
and society – for example the right to vote
or the right to assembly and association.

ECONOMIC RIGHTS 2 ND GENERATION

OF RIGHTS
Economic Rights reflect the fact that a certain
minimum level of material security is necessary These rights primarily concern the working and living
conditions as well as the access to basic necessities of life.
for human dignity – they include the right to
work, to an adequate standard of living, to They became a subject of international discussion and
housing and the right to social security. recognition with the effects of industrialization, addressing newly
emerging demands regarding the requirements for a life of dignity.

People realized that human dignity required more than just the lack of
interference by the State into certain spheres of their life, calling for the
State to take positive steps for the promotion of these rights.

SOCIAL RIGHTS
Social Rights are those rights that
are necessary for full participation
in the life of society, including the
right to education and the right to
found and maintain a family, as
well as the right to recreation or
to health care.
At the UN level, economic, social and cultural rights are for example
outlined in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural
Rights from 1966.
CULTURAL RIGHTS
Cultural Rights refer to a community's cultural
"way of life", including the right to participate
in the cultural life of the community.

3 RD GENERATION
OF RIGHTS
COLLECTIVE OR
In many parts of the world, conditions such as extreme SOLIDARITY RIGHTS
poverty, ecological and natural disasters and oppression
and colonialization meant that there was only limited Third generation rights are based on the
progress in respect for human rights. idea of solidarity, enshrining collective
For that reason, it was felt that the recognition of a new
rights of societies, peoples or groups -
category of human rights was necessary, which would such as the right to sustainable
help ensuring appropriate conditions for societies, development*, to self-determination or
particularly in the developing world, to be able to provide to a healthy environment.
the first and second generation rights.
*"The right to development is an inalienable human right by
virtue of which every human person and all peoples are
entitled to participate in, contribute to, and enjoy economic,
social, cultural and political development, in which all human
rights and fundamental freedoms can be fully realised."
Article 1, UN Declaration on the Right to Development

CONCLUSION
These three categories of human rights represent the order in which human rights developed and were
recognized by the international community – however, such a classification is nowadays of limited use
and can even be misleading at times.

While the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948 comprised rights of the 1st and 2nd
generation, the following decades brought a divide with regards to the importance that was attached
to specific categories of rights: During the Cold War, Western democracies prioritized 1st generation
rights, while resisting 2nd generation rights as “socialist”.

In the developing world, on the other hand, economic growth and development were often regarded as
primary goals – leading to the attitude that economic, social and cultural rights had to be prioritized,
even at the expense of 1st generation rights. During this period, the countries of the developing world
were severely criticized for their disregard of civil and political rights – and they in turn responded by
criticizing the Western democracies for ignoring key social and economic rights. In 1993, after the end
of the Cold War, the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action reaffirmed the indivisibility and
interdependence of all human rights.