Principles of Human Rights

The Linking of Rights

A portion of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was composed by a committee of global human rights experts, including representatives from every continent and every religions. Incorporating civil and political rights and economic, social and cultural rights was based on the idea that basic human rights are indivisible and therefore different types of rights are linked. This principle was not opposed at that time by other member states (the declaration was unanimously adopted although there was the abstention of the Eastern Bloc, Apartheid South Africa and Saudi Arabia), although this principle was later challenged.

Two Covenants

The Universal Declaration was divided into two covenants, one on Civil and Political Rights and another on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Despite objections from the developed states, which questioned the relevance of these provisions in covenants on human rights, both begin with the right of people to self-determination and to sovereignty over their natural resources. Then the two covenants depart.