The history of human rights is that of the struggle against exploitation of one person by another. It is based on the recognition of basic rights founded on the concept of the inherent dignity and worth of every individual. The recognition was consolidated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the General Assembly of the United Nations. Despite these agreements, gross and subtle violations of human rights are perpetrated every day against thousands of people. The victims of human rights abuses continue to suffer for many years as a result of their experience.
Many factors contribute to the violations of human rights.
The collapse of totalitarian regimes in Eastern Europe did not bring an end to the human rights abuses. The resurgence of nationalism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism in countries with established democracies, as well as in the former Eastern bloc, posed new challenges to the United Nations. In Africa, the rise of tribalism undermined the integrity of nations and led to widespread abuse of the most basic rights to life. In more than one region of the world, there has been a disturbing re-emergence of genocide in situations of armed conflict. Social Work Principles Human Rights condenses into two words the struggle for dignity and fundamental freedoms which allow the full development of human potential.