When did human rights law develop?
Human rights law is the body of laws and regulations designed to protect the fundamental rights and freedoms of individuals. It has its origins in the early 19th century, when efforts were made to end slavery, abolish torture, and protect individuals from unlawful imprisonment. In the decades that followed, many countries began to recognize the importance of protecting the rights and freedoms of citizens and incorporated these principles into their laws. In the United States, human rights law began to develop in the late 1940s. The United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, which established the right to life, liberty and security of person, and the right to freedom from discrimination and torture; these became the foundation for human rights law. In the state of Indiana, the Indiana Human Rights Commission (IHRC) was created in 1971 to administer and enforce the state’s discrimination laws. The IHRC is the official agency responsible for ensuring compliance with state and federal laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, religion, gender, age, national origin, disability, and other protected characteristics. Since the 1970s, human rights law in Indiana has continued to evolve and expand. Legislation such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and the Indiana Fair Housing Act of 1985 have all extended greater protections for individuals in the state. In recent years, the IHRC has taken further steps to advance equality and protect the rights and liberties of all Hoosiers.
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