Three Generations of Human Rights Summary
Division of human rights into three generations was introduced by Czech jurist Karel Vasak in 1979.
-The three categories compare to the three principles of the French Revolution: Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity.
Framework is a valuable conceptual tool for thinking about human rights, although it contains room for many key debates about the nature of rights.
Challenges us to our own assumptions about rights involved in the application of human rights.
Socio-Economic
Standards relating to
Providing goods that meet social needs
shelter, healthcare, nutrition, education, etc.
Providing goods that meet economic needs
work and fair wages, adequate living standards,
social security networks, etc.
Rights that guarantee equal conditions and treatment
Places duty onto government to meet and fulfil individual human rights
Rights were recognized by government after WW11
Civil-Political
Standards relating to
Physical and Civil security
no torture, no slavery, equality before the law, etc.
Freedoms and Empowerments
freedom of thought and religion,
political participation in society, etc.
Rights are strongly independent, negatively built
to protect individuals from the state
Participation and freedom in political life
Rights are legitimated and given status in international laws
Collective-Developmental
Standards relating to
Self-determination of peoples
their political status, cultural, economic,
and social development, etc
Certain special rights of ethnic and religious minorities
the enjoyment of one’s own culture,
languages, religions, etc
Rights of peoples and groups held against their respective states (mutual support within a group, shared interests)
Rights have gained acknowledgement in international treaties, but are the most debated and lack political & legal recognition.
Have been expressed as aspirational “soft law”
(not legally binding)