Towards a fourth generation for human rights

Abstract

Human rights have evolved to encompass several generations—namely the first, second, and third generations—according to the framework established by Karel Vasak. Despite being categorized into these generations, they all share a common essence: the universality of human rights and their focus on human dignity. These generational classifications are neither rigid nor exhaustive; instead, they are interrelated and mutually reinforcing when applied to uphold human dignity. The research problem arises from the fact that the rights associated with the so-called fourth generation have not yet been fully defined or recognized at the international level. Countries differ in their perspectives on the legitimacy of these rights, casting doubt on their universality. The research is based on the premise that fourth-generation rights are inherently collective and can only be fully addressed through a collective vision and analysis that prioritize communal values over individual human values. Given that human rights are fundamentally linked to democracy and the rule of law, this study advocates for the elimination of anything that contradicts these principles and calls for opposition to all forms of discrimination, persecution, and exploitation of people and their rights. The study proposes prioritizing fourth-generation human rights in international activities.

Keywords

• human rights
• fourth generation
• collective rights
• international law for human rights