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'''Human rights''' are the specific rights that all humans have, entirely by virtue of their status as human beings.  

'''Human rights''' are generally held to be the basic [[rights]] and [[freedoms]] to which all [[humans]] are entitled, entirely by virtue of their status as human beings.  

The U.S. [[Declaration of Independence]] says that people are "endowed by their [[Creator]] with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are [[Life]], [[Liberty]] and the pursuit of [[Happiness]]."  

The U.S. [[Declaration of Independence]] says that people are "endowed by their [[Creator]] with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are [[Life]], [[Liberty]] and the pursuit of [[Happiness]]."  

This is based on the statement that every person is entitled to "life, liberty and the pursuit of [[property]]", which was altered to "happiness" to avoid conflicts with [[slavery]] (slaves could not own property).

This is based on the statement that every person is entitled to "life, liberty and the pursuit of [[property]]", which was altered to "happiness" to avoid conflicts with [[slavery]] (slaves could not own property).

The [[United Nations]] issued, in 1948, a [[UDHR|list of human rights]] they deem inherent and inviolable.<ref>http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html</ref>  However, a number of [[totalitarian]] regimes continue to violate human rights, even when they have ratified the list. Many organisations and [[NGO]]s such as [[Amnesty International]], [[Human Rights Watch]], and [[Freedom House]] had abysmal records reporting on and exposing human rights violations during the Soviet era.

The [[United Nations]] issued, in 1948, a [[UDHR|list of human rights]] they deem inherent and inviolable.<ref>http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html</ref>   

 

:"All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood."

::—Article 1 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights

 

The [[Pope]] is a well known supporter of human rights, especially upholding the right to life and abolition of the death penalty<ref>http://ncronline.org/NCR_Online/archives2/2008a/011108/011108p.htm</ref>. This is in direct contradiction of the holy [[Bible|scriptures]] where it is clearly stated "Eye for eye, tooth for tooth" (Leviticus 24:20; also Exodus 21:24). This follows a more direct passage: "Whoever takes the life of any human being shall be put to death" (Leviticus 24:17). Other crimes which merit the death penalty are working on the sabbath (Exodus 31:15), cursing one's parents (Exodus 21:17) and teenage rebelliousness (Deuteronomy 21:18-21).

 

A number of [[totalitarian]] regimes continue to violate human rights, even when they have ratified the United Nations list.  

The UN has done little since the [[Korean War]] to investigate or expose [[human rights]] violations, and in the early 21st century it rebuked America by voting it out of the [[Human Rights Council]].{{fact}}  

The UN has done little since the [[Korean War]] to investigate or expose [[human rights]] violations, and in the early 21st century it rebuked America by voting it out of the [[Human Rights Council]].{{fact}}  

==References==

==References==