The contemporary idea of Human Rights is based on the United Nations Charter of Human Rights. It is enforceable and defend-able because it is an agreement between all United Nations members.  It is a legal framing of the general appreciation for human life; in terms of civil-political outcomes (the individual to leadership of a country) and social-economic outcomes (the smooth running of a country to its economic activities) and most importantly to enforce or defend standards set out in this charter. It is like an international agreement among all member-nations of the U.N. to maintain a practical standard of civility and order, in a globalized market-place with participants of varying development.

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The legal framing of human-rights is different from the philosophy behind human rights, because philosophy is always seeking the ultimate answer whereas laws are required to maintain peace here and now. Yet the intersection of law and philosophy is at its most cutting edge in the field of human rights.

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Despite the basic understanding that we all have ‘that equal right to life’, in real life, under different forms of government, ownership, traditions and cultural beliefs in the world, a standard of peace must be maintained for the global system to function without undue harm and exploitation for riches. Yet, some what like using the English language to conduct international business. as nations grow strong they insist upon their cultural contexts and customs.

There are corporate leaders who stand behind the United Nations Charter on Human Rights. Apple CEO, Tim Cook, urges other corporations to go beyond the government’s work in promoting Human Rights.

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The issue of diversity in Hollywood is a Human Rights topic, aimed at raising domestic standards and promoting that record elsewhere.

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China, a member of the United Nations, is under criticism for its ‘poor’ human rights record. In one factor, China has strict laws about ‘open’ communication involving censorship, causing Google, in this example, to stop doing business in that country.  Which does not impact Apple’s manufacturing operations there. In this way, the different contexts between countries and the vision of some companies intersect on human-rights.

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Human rights issues can come about from the intersection of many other fields, not just a corporate vision and the local context.

“What does Human Rights Day mean to you?”

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The cover photo is courtesy of Pixabay, where many other are also free.