Human rights are not privileges, and they cannot be granted or revoked.

人權不是就代表特權，它們均不能由他人賦予或剝奪

They are inalienable and universal.

它們是不可剝奪的，而且是普世的

That may sound straight forward enough, but it gets incredibly complicated as soon as anyone tries to put the idea into practice.

這聽來簡單易明，但它變得非常複雜， 只要是當有人嘗試實踐這理念的時候

What exactly are the basic human rights?

哪些是基本人權？

Who gets to pick them?

這由誰決定？

Who enforces them, and how?

誰執行它們，並如何執行？

The history behind the concept of human rights is a long one.

人權這觀念源遠流長

Throughout the centuries and across societies, religions, and cultures, we have struggled with defining notions of rightfulness, justice, and rights.

歷經多個世紀，橫跨種種社會、宗教和文化，我們都在掙扎如何定義 正當、正義和權利

But one of the most modern affirmations of universal human rights emerged from the ruins of World War II with the creation of the United Nations.

但其中一個最現代、對於普世人權的肯定出現在第二次世界大戰後，伴隨著聯合國的創立

The treaty that established the UN gives as one of its purposes to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights.

建立聯合國的條約申明，它其中一個目的是重新確立對於基本人權的信念

And with the same spirit, in 1948, the UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

本著相同精神於1948，聯合國大會通過《世界人權宣言》

This document, written by an international committee chaired by Eleanor Roosevelt, lays the basis for modern international human rights law.

這文件由愛蓮娜．羅斯福主持的 國際委員會起草為現代國際人權法奠下基礎

The declaration is based on the principle that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.

宣言建基於一個原則：所有人都生而自由，並享有平等的尊嚴和權利

It lists 30 articles recognizing, among other things, the principle of nondiscrimination and the right to life and liberty.

宣言列出 30 條權利例如，承認不歧視原則，肯定生存和自由的權利

It refers to negative freedoms, like the freedom from torture or slavery, as well as positive freedoms, such as the freedom of movement and residence.

宣言包括消極自由，例如免受酷刑和奴役的自由也包括積極自由 例如遷徙往來的自由

It encompasses basic civil and political rights, such as freedom of expression, religion, or peaceful assembly, as well as social, economic, and cultural rights, such as the right to education and the right to freely choose one's occupation and be paid and treated fairly.

宣言涉及公民和政治權利例如表達自由、宗教自由與 和平集會的自由 同時涉及社會、經濟和文化權利 例如受教育的權利 自由選擇職業 並享有公平薪酬待遇的權利

The declaration takes no sides as to which rights are more important, insisting on their universality, indivisibility, and interdependence.

宣言並無判斷這些權利孰輕孰重而是強調它們是普世的、 不可分割的 而且互相依存的

And in the past decades, international human rights law has grown, deepening and expanding our understanding of what human rights are, and how to better protect them.

在過去數十年，國際人權法持續發展我們對於「人權」的理解更為深廣 也更清楚如何保障「人權」

So if these principles are so well-developed, then why are human rights abused and ignored time and time again all over the world?

若果這些原則已經如此完善為何濫用和漠視人權的情況 在世界不同角落仍不斷發生？

The problem in general is that it is not at all easy to universally enforce these rights or to punish transgressors.

概括而言，問題在於普世地執行這些權利或懲罰違反者並不容易

The UDHR itself, despite being highly authoritative and respected, is a declaration, not a hard law.

《世界人權宣言》雖然權威並受尊重但只是宣言，而非能拘束主權國家的法律

So when individual countries violate it, the mechanisms to address those violations are weak.

所以當個別國家觸犯它相應的處理機制是軟弱的

For example, the main bodies within the UN in charge of protecting human rights mostly monitor and investigate violations, but they cannot force states to, say, change a policy or compensate a victim.

例如，聯合國內負責保障人權的主要組織大多監察和調查違反人權的情況 但它們對國家沒有約束力，例如不能迫使國家改變政策或賠償受害者

That's why some critics say it's naive to consider human rights a given in a world where state interests wield so much power.

這正是為何一些評論說 「人權天賦」的說法幼稚忽略這是一個國家利益支配權力的世界

Critics also question the universality of human rights and emphasize that their development has been heavily guided by a small number of mostly Western nations to the detriment of inclusiveness.

評論也質疑人權的普世性，並強調「人權」的歷史演變 深受少數國家 (多為西方國家) 的影響 有損「人權」的包容性

The result?

結果呢？

A general bias in favor of civil policital liberties over sociopolitical rights and of individual over collective or groups rights.

普遍偏向認為公民政治權利凌駕社會政治權利 而且個人權利凌駕集體權利

Others defend universal human rights laws and point at the positive role they have on setting international standards and helping activists in their campaigns.

一些人則捍衛普世的人權法，指出這些法律有助建立國際標準， 也有助推動人權運動

They also point out that not all international human rights instruments are powerless.

同時，這些人也指出不是所有國際的人權組織皆無權力

For example, the European Convention on Human Rights establishes a court where the 47 member countries and their citizens can bring cases.

例如，《歐洲人權公約》設立法院47 個成員國和其居民均能提出訴訟

The court issues binding decisions that each member state must comply with.

成員國必須遵從法院作出的決定

Human rights law is constantly evolving as are our views and definitions of what the basic human rights should be.

人權法持續演進，隨著我們對於基本人權的看法和定義而不斷演變

For example, how basic or important is the right to democracy or to development?

例如，享有民主的權利有多基本或重要？發展的權利又如何？

And as our lives are increasingly digital, should there be a right to access the Internet?

當我們的生活日漸數碼化我們應該享有上網的權利嗎？

A right to digital privacy?

或是數碼私隱的權利？

What do you think?

你的意見呢？