When did human rights law develop?

Human rights law developed as a response to atrocities and suffering inflicted upon people on a global scale throughout history. With the intention of protecting the lives and freedoms of individuals, the international community worked together to create the first human rights documents in the late 1940s. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the United Nations in 1948 in response to the horrors of World War II. This document declared that all human beings are equal, regardless of race, gender, or religion, and established the rights of everyone to life, liberty, and security. In Alaska, the state legislature passed the Alaska Human Rights Law in 1964, making it the first state in the United States to provide comprehensive protection from discrimination based on race, sex, national origin, religion, and physical or mental disability. This law aimed to ensure that no individual would suffer injustices or face hardship because of their identity or background. With the passage of the Alaska Human Rights Law, and the implementation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, human rights law has steadily evolved over the years. Today, global human rights law is upheld by the United Nations and set forth in treaties and declarations, as well as regulations and laws passed in many countries and states throughout the world.

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