Buddhist Attitude towards Protecting Human Rights

Abstract

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a milestone document in the history of human rights. Drafted by representatives with different legal and cultural backgrounds from all regions of the world, it set out, for the first time, fundamental human rights to be universally protected. The Declaration was adopted by the UN General Assembly in Paris on 10^th December 1948 during its 183^rd. plenary meeting. The term Human derived from the Latin word “hÅ«mÄnus†which means the man. Today that the term Human explains as two different sides. They are common usage and the scientific usage. In common usage, the word “human†generally refers to the species of “Homo†and conventionally says as “Homo sapiensâ€. In scientific usage, it was called “hominid†and “homininâ€. The concept of a “right†has a long intellectual history in the Western as well as Eastern. Etymologically, the English word “right†is derived from the Latin “rectus†meaning “straightâ€. Accordingly, human rights can be defined as the right which is believed to belong to every person. According to Buddhism, every being has a right which they aspire to claim from born to death. Especially they are like to live free from any disturbance. Therefore, the Buddha has pointed out the right path to human beings without fear and worry to live in this world and after the world and finally to emancipation, Nibbana. I expect to describe a full explanation of human rights and its history and examination of the Buddhist attitude to protecting human rights. Here I have attention all over the Sutta pitaka and Vinaya pitaka.