= a ASU111: Haan Rights History of Human Rights“s a ay Human Rights and its Antecedents Deliberations on these ideas can be recorded back to the ancient civilization of Babylon, China and India. = Human rights influenced the laws of Greek and Roman society and were central to Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism. = The notion of moral code, equitableness, righteousness and self-respect were also crucial even in those communities who have not left written records but the thoughts have been handed down the generations through oral histories. = Thus we can say that human rights are not a recent invention.Originally, people had rights only because of their membership in a group, such as a family. Then, in 539 BC, Cyrus the Great, after conquering the city of Babylon, did something totally unexpected—he freed all slaves to return home. Moreover, he declared people should choose their own religion. The Cyrus Cylinder, a clay tablet containing his statements, is theThe Magna Carta (1215) was a British document that was an agreement stating that the sovereign or king had to consult with the lords or barons of the kingdom in establishing certain publie policies. This was very important for the development of a constitutional or limited government, but it was not a legitimate human rights documents. The Magna Carta is acknowledged to be the originating document which influenced the drafting of the English Liberties and American Liberties Human Rights are primarily ethical in nature. Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679), John Locke (1632-1704) and Jean- Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778) are the three main thinkers who document of human developed the Natural Rights theory. rights was signed by King John on dune 15,1215.Petition of Right, (1628) petition sent by the ~~ English Parliament to King Charles I complaining of a series of breaches of law. The petition sought recognition of four principles: no taxation without the consent of Parliament, no imprisonment without cause, no quartering of soldiers on subjects, and no martial law in peacetime. See also petition of right.The American Declaration of Independence The American Declaration of Independence (1776) was based on the understanding that certain rights, such as ‘life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness’, weré essential for all people.The French Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen The French Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen (1789) challenged the sovereignty of the aristocracy and recognized the ‘liberty, equality and fraternity’ of individuals. These values were in the United States’ Bill of Rights (1791), which recognized freedom of speech, religion and the press in jts Constitution, as well as the right to peaceful assembly, private property and a c fair trial. Furthermore, the Virginia Declaration of Rights (1776) declared a number of fundamental rights and freedoms.History of Human Rights The idea of human rights spread quickly to India, Greece and eventually Rome. The most important advances since then have included: “* 1215: The Magna Carta—gave people new rights and made the king subject to the law. * 1628: The Petition of Right—set out the rights of the people. “* 1776: The United States Declaration of Independence—proclaimed the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. * 1789: The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen—a document of France, stating that all citizens are equal under the law. “» 1948: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights—the first document listing the 30 rights to which everyone is entitled.30 Articles Article 1 Origin of Rights Articles 2-21 Civil and political rights Articles 22-27 Economic, social and cultural rights Article 28 Communitarian/solidarity Article 29-30 Duties to the Community