Key human rights milestones throughout history THE CYRUS CYLINDER – c539-530BC Cyrus 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 Cylinder Creative 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 Image: German Red Cross nurses humane treatment of during WWI in 1915 attending to prisoners of war. wounded soldiers Unknown 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 Sheppard Photo from 1905, photographer unknown
Source: NZ History THE UNITED NATIONS - 1945 The 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.
Image: Plaque of the UDHR in In 1948 New Zealand lobbied to ensure front of the Joukyou Gimin “freedom from want” was alongside Memorial Museum, Japan rights such as freedom of speech and Owner - HappyBD58. Licenced under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons freedom from torture.
Source: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL - 1961 In 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 Image: Amnesty International logo was founded and is now the world’s largest human rights organisation.
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 Image: Torture Reconstruction. Amnesty International. these rights written into its Bill of Rights.
Source: The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS - 1966 This 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 Image: Roma children at school International Covenant on Amnesty International Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) in 1978.
Source: Economic Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights NEW ZEALAND BILL OF RIGHTS ACT - 1990
The 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 Image: The New Zealand Coat of Arms protected in this.
Source: New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 YOUNG NEW ZEALANDERS - TODAY In 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 2015 Amnesty International REFERENCES
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