Human rights timeline.charlotte_coffeng

By horchatalover44
  • 1760 BCE

    Hammurabi's Code

    In Babylon King Hammurabi draws up the ‘Code of Hammurabi’, an early legal document that promises to ‘make justice reign in the Kingdom and promote the good of the people’
  • 1300 BCE

    Egypt

    Moses, Jewish leader, and prophet, receives and preaches the ten commandments at Mount Sinai. It is a speech.
  • 537 BCE

    The Cyrus Cylinder

    The Cyrus Cylinder is a document issued by Cyrus the Great, consisting of a cylinder of clay inscribed in Akkadian cuneiform script. The cylinder was created in 539 BCE, surely by order of Cyrus the Great, when he took Babylon from Nabonidus, ending the Neo-Babylonian empire. This document is clearly propaganda, praising the Achemenid ruler Cyrus and treating Nabonidus like an impious and bad king.
  • 528 BCE

    Gautama Buddha Advocates Morality

    In India, Gautama Buddha advocates morality, reverence for life, non-violence, and right conduct. It is a speech.
  • 500 BCE

    The Ancient Greeks

    The ancient Greeks use words for "freedom of speech" and for "equality before the law".
  • 400 BCE

    China

    Mozi, a philosopher travels around China trying to stop rulers from starting wars. It is a concept.
  • 27 BCE

    Roman Empire

    Roman Empire develops the concepts of natural law and the rights of citizens. The ruler at that time was Augustus. It is a concept.
  • 1 CE

    Jesus Christ

    In Palestine, Jesus Christ preaches equality, tolerance, forgiveness, and love among people. It is a speech.
  • 500

    Prophet Mohammed

    In Saudi Arabia, Prophet Mohammed, the founder of Islam, teaches the principles of equality, justice and compassion revealed in the Qur’ān. It is a speech.
  • 1215

    Magna Carta

    Britain's King John is forced by his lords to sign the Magna Carta, acknowledging that free men are entitled to a judgment by their peers and that even a King is not above the law. It also stated that taxes could not be demanded without first obtaining the consent of ‘the realm’. It is a legal code.

  • Birth International Law

    Hugo Grotius, a Dutch jurist credited with the birth of international law, speaks of the brotherhood of humankind and the need to treat all people fairly. It is a legal code.

  • The Petition of the Right

    Prepared in 1628 by the English Parliament and sent to Charles I as a declaration of civil liberties. Initiated by Sir Edward Coke, it enforces four principles: No tax can be collected without the consent of the Parliament, no subject can be imprisoned without a proven cause, no soldier can be quartered with citizens, and can not be used martial law in times of peace.

  • Parliament Adopts the Bill of Rights

    In England, Parliament adopts the Bill of Rights that curtails the power of the monarch and includes freedom from torture and from punishment without trial. The Bill sets out that it is the job of the government to represent the people and their rights.

  • The American Constitution

    The Bill of Rights of the American Constitution protects freedom of speech, religion, and peaceful gatherings. Created by the American Congress.

  • National French Assembly

    The French National Assembly passes the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen. It says: "Men are born free and remain free and equal in rights."

  • United States Congress Adopts their Bill of Rights

    The United States Congress adopts their Bill of Rights, amending the US Constitution to include rights to trial by jury, freedom of expression, speech, belief and assembly

  • British Parliament Abolishes Slavery

    The British Parliament abolishes slavery through the Slavery Abolition Act.

  • Communist Manifesto

    In Germany, Karl Marx publishes the Communist Manifesto. He calls for a society where there are no classes.

  • Women's Vote

    In 1893 the governor, Lord Glasgow, signed a new Electoral Act into law. As a result of this landmark legislation, New Zealand became the first self-governing country in the world in which women had the right to vote in parliamentary elections.

  • Gandhi

    Gandhi preaches non-violence and campaigns for equality and understanding between the different people of India. It is a speech and takes place in India.

  • Universal Declaration of Human Rights

    The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a milestone document in the history of human rights. Drafted by representatives from different legal and cultural backgrounds from all regions of the world, the Declaration was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on 10 December 1948.

  • Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination

    The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD) is adopted and opened for signature. It is introduced to eliminate racial discrimination and promote understanding among all races

  • Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women

    The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) is adopted and opened for signature. It is introduced to prevent discrimination against and to promote the rights of, women.

  • Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities

    In 2007, 177 parties of the United Nations signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

  • Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People

    Member of the UN voted in 2007, to adopt the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which aimed to address the human rights of Indigenous Peoples around the globe and to promote their own needs and aspirations and to maintain and grow their own institutions.

  • Legalization of same sex marrige in the US

    In 2015, the United States Supreme Court struck down the ban on same-sex marriage in all 50 states. Same-sex marriage was legalized in certain states before the ruling, but this gave all same-sex couples federal rights that are given to married couples no matter where they lived in the country.