The Ethical Foundations of Human Rights Conference
March 28th 2018

Location: Atrium, Stamp Student Union, University of Maryland

This conference will bring together leading thinkers from across disciplines to explore the ethical foundations of human rights in the 21st century. Underlying the discussion will be an exploration of some of the more challenging philosophical and practical questions that have come into view as human rights thinkers have sought to translate the ideals that are embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights into action.

In 1948, The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly, beginning the codification process of human rights in international law. The preamble affirms the “recognition of the inherent dignity and…equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family” and goes further to assert that human rights are “the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.”(United Nations, 1948).
 
Human rights have become increasingly codified, in both national and international legal systems. While debates have focused on what types of rights should be codified, political rights, social rights, economic rights, and even environmental rights, less attention has been paid to examining the ethical foundations of the concept of human rights.