The Human Rights Reader: Major Political Writings, Essays, Speeches, and Documents from the Bible to the Present

"In every age there have been voices speaking out against oppression, voices that refuse to be silenced and that, whether through peaceful reform or violent revolution, lead the way to the liberation and transformation of society. Today, from the International Women's Conference, to Amnesty International and the debate over humanitarian intervention, global interest in human rights is strong and growing. This anthology provides the first comprehensive historical perspective on human rights, covering influential figures, ideals, movements and strategies. The Human Rights Reader explores the changing concept and practice of human rights through the writings of religious humanists, classical and modern thinkers, major legal documents, political speeches, key theoretical approaches, philosophical works and issues of contemporary relevance. Gathered from a variety of disciplines and sources, Micheline Ishay has selected readings to reflect the range and depth of the human rights debate across cultures and history. Beginning with the early origins of human rights, she follows the debate through the Enlightenment, the Industrial Age, the World Wars and anti-imperialist struggles. Several selections illustrate how the debate has been picked up by new social movements, such as environmentalists and gay rights advocates. Visionaries, activists, and politicians have disagreed on how to achieve or even define human rights, sometimes working together and sometimes in opposition. This reader provides a comparative overview from which to examine not only the debate, but how rights were gained or lost. As such, it offers us lessons for the present and hope for the future"-- ǂc Publisher description.