A2: The components of human rights
became visible in 5 different directions from the 17th century
onwards. For example
1. Civil human rights
2. Political human rights
3. Economic human rights
4. Social & cultural human
rights
5. Development oriented human
rights
Each century contributed to the development and strengthening of one or two different types of human rights.
The 17th and 18th century
contributed and strengthened the civil rights which assured civil liberties,
property and the rights to justice. The demand for civil rights in the 17th and
18th century was a demand against the state and its various authorities. The
18th and 19th centuries contributed to the strengthening of political rights
which enabled the citizens of the state to take part in the government of the
state directly or though their elected representatives.
The civil and political human
rights are collectively known as the "liberty oriented human rights"
because there rights collectively provide protection and guarantee individuals
against the state and its agencies. The civil and political rights were 1st
given by the American declaration of independence against British rule on the 4th of July 1776 . 13
colonies in America
proclaimed independence against the British Colonial rule. This was also known
as the 1st generation of human rights. In 1789 there was a French declaration
of rights of men.
In words of Dr. David Thompson,
"it was a declaration of the rights of man, a statement intended to have a
universal application and which had far reaching implication. It was drawn up
not for France ,
but for the benefit of men everywhere.
The 20th century contributed to
the development and strengthening of economic social and cultural rights and
also the rights of the minorities. These rights aim at the promotion of the
economic and social security through economic and social upliftment of the
weaker sections of the society. These rights are essential for dignity of human
beings and also for free development of human personality.
The economic social and cultural
rights including the rights of the minorities are collectively known as
security oriented human rights. These are also known as the second generation
of human rights.
The development oriented human
rights are of a very recent origin in the late 20th century. These human rights
enable an individual to participate in the process all round development. These
rights also include issues related to environment.
