Why We Have Human Rights Laws

A Brief History of Human Rights from Locke to the UN General Assembly

Human rights, as we know them today, are thought to have originated from the West — especially from those who celebrate the influence of “Judeo-Christian values.” But similar philosophical principles can also be found in Confucian, Hindu, and Buddhist traditions.

The protection of human freedom and a sense of dignity can be traced as far back to Hammurabi’s Code in Babylon (approximately 1780 BCE). Although, human rights as we know them…