Paper Details

Name: Gagneet Pal Kaur
Country: India

Year: 2017
Volume: Volume-4, Issue-2 (July-December)
Page Number: 35-43

Of several good definitions of human rights in the contemporary literature, Louis Henkins’ is the most comprehensive one. Human rights are rights of individuals in society. Every human being has legitimate, valid, justified claims upon his or her society to various “goods” and benefits. They are defined particular claims listed in international instruments deemed essential for individual well being, dignity and fulfillment and that reflect a common sense of justice, fairness and decency (Mohanty 76).
Human rights are ways of expressing the requirements of human dignity in a social context and of safe guarding respect for that dignity. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the two International Covenants on Human Rights, and other widely accepted post war international instrument begin by affirming that concern with human rights is rooted in recognition of the inherent and equal dignity of all human beings. Dignity therefore, is the underlying concept.