Johnson Debbie
people

The idea that people have inalienable rights is rooted in many cultures and ancient traditions. Numerous examples of revered rulers and the most important collections of laws from human history show us that the values embodied in human rights are neither a “Western invention” nor a 20th century invention. They were a response to universal human needs and to the demands and quest for justice. Every human community had its own ideals and systems of justice, which have survived as traditions, oral or written, although not all of these traditions have survived to this day.

  • King Hammurabi’s Code of Laws (Iraq, about 2000 B.C.) was the first written code of laws established by this ruler of Babylon. It vowed to “rule the kingdom justly, to exterminate the wicked and cruel, not to allow the strong to oppress the weak, … to enlighten the country, and to promote the welfare of the people.
  • The words of the ancient Egyptian pharaoh (about 2000 B.C.) are quoted, instructing his subordinates: “When a petitioner comes from the Upper or Lower Nile, make sure that everything goes according to law, that the custom is followed and the rights of every person are respected.
  • The Charter of Cyrus (Iran, about 539 B.C.) was drawn up by King Cyrus of Persia for the people of his country. The charter recognized the right of the people to liberty and security, religious tolerance, freedom of movement, freedom from slavery, and certain social and economic rights.
  • The teachings of Confucius (about 500 B.C.) are based on the concept of ren, the main idea of which is compassion and love for others. Confucius said: “Do not wish for others what you do not wish for yourself.” The Chinese expert on Confucianism, Dr. Peng Chang, who took an active part in the drafting of the UDHR (see section 5.6.1 below), believed that Confucius’ teachings were the basis of the idea of protecting human rights.
  • Imam Ali ibn al-Hussein wrote his “Epistle of Rights” in the early eighth century A.D. To our knowledge, this letter is the first documentary evidence of how human rights were treated in that era, and it was the first attempt at a positive, rather than negative, approach to the concept of human rights. In methodological terms, this epistle provides a list of 50 such human rights, and in spirit they reflect the views of early Islam.
  • The Mande Charter or Kurukan Fuga (1236 A.D.) systematizes the oral forms of West African traditions and advocates principles such as decentralization, environmental protection, human rights, and cultural diversity.
  • The African view of the world, denoted by the Zulu word “ubuntu” (humanity), captures the very essence of humanism. This notion beautifully emphasizes the importance of respect for all community members, hospitality, and generosity. The expression “one becomes human in the community of others” best captures the content of the word “ubuntu,” and this concept as a whole is directly related to human rights. If we become human beings in human society, then by depriving others of their right to be human, we ourselves cease to be human. This is why it is so important and necessary to stand up for the rights of others, to forgive and be forgiven, and to respect the rights of others.