Human Rights, GRI-KIR

These are the rights that you’re entitled to simply for being human. The term “human rights” is relatively new, but the concept of human rights had its origins in ancient Greece and Rome. Although the principle of human rights has gained widespread acceptance over the centuries, there has been disagreement over the nature and scope of such rights and their definition. Still, the reality of popular demands for human rights in the early 21st century is undeniable, and a deepening and widening concern for the promotion and protection of human rights on all fronts is now woven into the fabric of contemporary world affairs.
Back To Human Rights Page

Human Rights Encyclopedia Articles By Title

Griswold v. State of Connecticut
Griswold v. State of Connecticut, legal case, decided by the U.S. Supreme Court on June 7, 1965, that found in......
GĂŒnzburg, Horace, Baron
Horace, Baron GĂŒnzburg was a Russian businessman, philanthropist, and vigilant fighter for the rights of his Jewish......
GĂŒnzburg, Joseph, Baron
Joseph, Baron GĂŒnzburg was a Jewish philanthropist, banker, and financier who contributed much to the industrialization......
Hamer, Fannie Lou
Fannie Lou Hamer was an African American civil rights activist who worked to desegregate the Mississippi Democratic......
Hampton, Fred
Fred Hampton was an American civil rights leader and deputy chairman of the Black Panther Party’s Illinois chapter......
Hardie, J Keir
J. Keir Hardie was a British labour leader, first to represent the workingman in Parliament as an Independent (1892)......
Harlan, John Marshall
John Marshall Harlan was an associate justice of the United States Supreme Court from 1877 until his death and......
Harlem race riot of 1964
Harlem race riot of 1964, a six-day period of rioting that started on July 18, 1964, in the Manhattan neighbourhood......
Harper, Frances E.W.
Frances E.W. Harper was an American author, orator, and social reformer who was notable for her poetry, speeches,......
Harper, Ida A. Husted
Ida A. Husted Harper was a journalist and suffragist, remembered for her writings in the popular press for and......
Harrington, Michael
Michael Harrington was an American socialist activist and author, best known for his book The Other America (1962),......
Harris, Barbara
Barbara Harris was an American clergywoman and social activist who was the first female bishop in the Anglican......
Havel, VĂĄclav
VĂĄclav Havel was a Czech playwright, poet, and political dissident who, after the fall of communism, was president......
Hay, Harry
Harry Hay was an American gay rights activist who believed that homosexuals should see themselves as an oppressed......
Haya de la Torre, VĂ­ctor RaĂșl
VĂ­ctor RaĂșl Haya de la Torre was a Peruvian political theorist and activist who founded (1924) and led APRA, a......
Hayden, Tom
Tom Hayden was an American activist and author. One of the preeminent activists of the 1960s, Hayden helped found......
Hays, Arthur Garfield
Arthur Garfield Hays was an American lawyer who defended, usually without charge, persons accused in many prominent......
Hazare, Anna
Anna Hazare is an Indian social activist who led movements to promote rural development, increase government transparency,......
Heart of Atlanta Motel v. United States
Heart of Atlanta Motel v. United States, case in which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Dec. 14, 1964, that in passing......
Height, Dorothy
Dorothy Height was an American civil rights and women’s rights activist, a widely respected and influential leader......
Helsinki Accords
Helsinki Accords, (August 1, 1975), major diplomatic agreement signed in Helsinki, Finland, at the conclusion of......
Helsinki process
Helsinki process, series of events that followed the Conference for Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE;......
Helsinki, Declaration of
Declaration of Helsinki, formal statement of ethical principles published by the World Medical Association (WMA)......
Henrician Articles
Henrician Articles, (1573) statement of the rights and privileges of the Polish gentry (szlachta) that all elected......
Henson, Josiah
Josiah Henson was an American labourer and clergyman who escaped slavery in 1830 and found refuge in Canada, where......
Heumann, Judith
Judith Heumann was an American disability rights activist who fought for the integration and equality of individuals......
Higgins, Michael D.
Michael D. Higgins is an Irish politician, human rights activist, university lecturer, and poet who served as president......
Highlander Research and Education Center
Highlander Research and Education Center, American activist organization (founded 1932) that seeks social, economic,......
Hill, Julia Butterfly
Julia Butterfly Hill is an American activist known for having lived in a tree for 738 days in an act of civil disobedience......
Hill, Oliver
Oliver Hill was an African American attorney and prominent civil rights activist, best known for his outspoken......
Hirschfeld, Magnus
Magnus Hirschfeld was a German physician who was an important theorist of sexuality and a prominent advocate of......
Hirsi Ali, Ayaan
Ayaan Hirsi Ali is a Somali-born Dutch American activist, writer, and politician best known for her contention......
historical injustice
historical injustice, past moral wrong committed by previously living people that has a lasting impact on the well-being......
History of Woman Suffrage
History of Woman Suffrage, publication that appeared, over the course of some 40 years, in six volumes and nearly......
Hoffman, Abbie
Abbie Hoffman was an American political activist who founded the Youth International Party (Yippies) and was known......
Hogg, David
As a kid, David Hogg struggled with ADHD and dyslexia. When he was in fifth grade, his father was diagnosed with......
Holman, M. Carl
M. Carl Holman was an American civil rights leader who, as president of the National Urban Coalition (1971–88),......
Holmes, Oliver Wendell, Jr.
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. was an associate justice of the United States Supreme Court, U.S. legal historian and......
Hooker, Isabella Beecher
Isabella Beecher Hooker was an American suffragist prominent in the fight for women’s rights in the mid- to late......
Hooks, Benjamin L.
Benjamin L. Hooks was an American jurist, minister, and government official who was executive director of the National......
Hope, John
John Hope was an American educator and advocate of advanced liberal-arts instruction for Black students at a time......
Houston, Charles Hamilton
Charles Hamilton Houston was an American lawyer and educator instrumental in laying the legal groundwork that led......
How did the Magna Carta influence the American Constitution?
The Magna Carta significantly influenced the American Constitution by laying the groundwork for the concepts of......
Howe, Julia Ward
Julia Ward Howe was an American author and lecturer best known for her “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Julia Ward......
Hu Jia
Hu Jia is a Chinese dissident and human rights activist who was awarded the European Parliament’s Sakharov Prize......
Huerta, Dolores
Dolores Huerta was an American labor leader and activist whose work on behalf of migrant farmworkers led to the......
Human Rights Act 1998
Human Rights Act 1998, legislation that defines the fundamental rights and freedoms to which everyone in the United......
Human Rights Campaign
Human Rights Campaign (HRC), U.S. political advocacy organization promoting equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual,......
Human Rights First
Human Rights First (HRF), nongovernmental organization founded in New York City in 1978 to defend human rights......
Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch, international nongovernmental organization that investigates and documents human rights violations......
Hunt, Henry
Henry Hunt was a British radical political reformer who gained the nickname “Orator” Hunt for his ubiquitous speechmaking......
Hunter, David
David Hunter was a Union officer during the American Civil War who issued an emancipation proclamation (May 9,......
Hylton, R. Dale
R. Dale Hylton was an animal rights activist and educator in the humane treatment of animals who served for more......
I Have a Dream
I Have a Dream, speech by Martin Luther King, Jr., that was delivered on August 28, 1963, during the March on Washington.......
IbrāhÄ«m, SaÊżd al-DÄ«n
SaÊżd al-DÄ«n IbrāhÄ«m is an Egyptian American professor and civil rights activist known for his vocal criticism of......
IdĂĄr, Jovita
Jovita IdĂĄr was a Mexican American journalist, teacher, and activist who devoted her life to fighting the racism......
Indigenismo
Indigenismo, movement in Latin America advocating a dominant social and political role for Indians in countries......
International Council of Women
International Council of Women (ICW), organization, founded in 1888, that works with agencies around the world......
International Federation of Human Rights
International Federation of Human Rights, international nongovernmental organization of human rights groups focused......
International Law, Institute of
Institute of International Law, international organization founded in Ghent, Belgium, in 1873 to develop and implement......
International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association
International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA), worldwide federation of individuals......
Islam, Kazi Nazrul
Kazi Nazrul Islam was an influential and prolific Bengali poet and anti-imperial activist. He was known as Bidrohi......
Jabavu, Davidson Don Tengo
Davidson Don Tengo Jabavu was a Black educator and South African political leader. The son of John Tengo Jabavu,......
Jackson, Helen Hunt
Helen Hunt Jackson was an American poet, novelist, and advocate for Indigenous rights. She was the daughter of......
Jackson, Jesse
Jesse Jackson was one of the most significant leaders of the 20th-century American civil rights movement, whose......
Jackson, Robert H.
Robert H. Jackson was an associate justice of the United States Supreme Court (1941–54). An adept scholar, Jackson......
Jacobi, Mary Putnam
Mary Putnam Jacobi was an American physician, writer, educator, and suffragist who is considered to have been the......
Jarvis, Anna
Anna Jarvis was an American social activist who is generally recognized as the founder of the legal holiday known......
Jelinek, Elfriede
Elfriede Jelinek is an Austrian novelist, playwright, and poet noted for her controversial works on gender relations,......
Jernigan, Kenneth
Kenneth Jernigan was an American activist and administrator who was a prominent opponent of discrimination against......
Jesuit
Jesuit, member of the Society of Jesus (S.J.), a Roman Catholic order of religious men founded by St. Ignatius......
Jim Crow law
Jim Crow law, in U.S. history, any of the laws that enforced racial segregation in the South between the end of......
Johnson, Lyndon B.
Lyndon B. Johnson was the 36th president of the United States (1963–69). A moderate Democrat and vigorous leader......
Johnson, Marsha P.
Marsha P. Johnson was a Black American drag queen and activist who was dedicated to social justice for the gay......
Jones, Claudia
Claudia Jones was a Trinidadian social and political activist and journalist who advocated for Black individuals,......
Jordan, Vernon
Vernon Jordan was an American attorney, civil rights leader, business consultant, and influential power broker.......
Joyeuse Entrée
Joyeuse EntrĂ©e, (French: “Joyous Entry”), during the European Middle Ages and the ancien rĂ©gime, the ceremonial......
Juan José Gerardi Conedera
Juan José Gerardi Conedera was a Guatemalan Roman Catholic bishop and human rights activist. Gerardi was known......
Julian, George W.
George W. Julian was an American reform politician who began as an abolitionist, served in Congress as a Radical......
Justice
Justice, In philosophy, the concept of a proper proportion between a person’s deserts (what is merited) and the......
Kadeer, Rebiya
Rebiya Kadeer is a Uyghur entrepreneur and human rights activist. A longtime advocate of greater autonomy for China’s......
Kagawa Toyohiko
Kagawa Toyohiko was a Christian social reformer, author, and leader in Japanese labour and democratic movements......
Kamaraj, Kumaraswami
Kumaraswami Kamaraj was an Indian independence activist and statesman who rose from humble beginnings to become......
Karenga, Maulana
Maulana Karenga is an American activist, scholar, and author. He is best known as the creator of Kwanzaa, the seven-day......
Karman, Tawakkol
Tawakkol Karman is a Yemeni women’s rights activist who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011 for her role in......
Kartini, Raden Adjeng
Raden Adjeng Kartini was a Javanese noblewoman whose letters made her an important symbol for the Indonesian independence......
Kejriwal, Arvind
Arvind Kejriwal is an Indian social activist and politician best known for being the founder and leader of the......
Kennedy, Ethel
Ethel Kennedy was a lifelong advocate for social justice and human rights, who is perhaps best known for the tragedy......
Kennedy, John F.
John F. Kennedy was the 35th president of the United States (1961–63), who faced a number of foreign crises, especially......
Kennedy, Robert F.
Robert F. Kennedy was a U.S. attorney general and adviser during the administration of his brother Pres. John F.......
Kennedy, Robert F., Jr.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is an American environmental lawyer who serves as secretary of the U.S. Department of Health......
Key, Ellen
Ellen Key was a Swedish feminist and writer whose advanced ideas on sex, love and marriage, and moral conduct had......
Khalaf, áčąalāង
áčąalāង Khalaf was a Palestinian political activist who was a founding member of the Fatah faction of the Palestine......
Killens, John Oliver
John Oliver Killens was an American writer and activist known for his politically charged novels—particularly Youngblood......
King, Carol Weiss
Carol Weiss King was an American lawyer who specialized in immigration law and the defense of the civil rights......
King, Coretta Scott
Coretta Scott King was an American civil rights activist who was the wife of Martin Luther King, Jr. Coretta Scott......
Kirk, Charlie
Charlie Kirk was a political prodigy who never held elective office. ‱ He was 18 when he founded Turning Point......
Kirk, Erika
A beauty pageant winner, an athlete, an entrepreneur, a Christian podcaster, a wife, and a mother. That pretty......

Human Rights Encyclopedia Articles By Title