International Human Rights and the International Human Rights System A Manual for National Human Rights Institutions 2. THE ORIGINS OF INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAW Concepts of rights have grown from the ethical and moral teachings of major religions and philosophical systems but their transformation into law has been the product of specific events, in specific places at specific times. Generally it has been a reaction to cultures and practices that, in the words of the UDHR, have “outraged the conscience of mankind”.19 Although the origins of international law lie many centuries ago, the human rights dimensions of the law only began to develop in the 19th century as a response to these kinds of events. It seems that growth came as a result of specific events that shocked even the leaders of nations. Norms against slavery developed in the first half of the 19th century through international campaigning against the horrors of the international trade in human beings. Particularly bloody warfare in northern Italy in the 1850s resulted in the development of international humanitarian law (also called the “law of war” or the “law of armed conflict”) during the second half of the 19th century. By the turn of the 20th century, there were international treaties on many issues associated with warfare: the conduct of war,20 the treatment of civilians,21 the treatment of prisoners of war22 and the treatment of war wounded.23 The unprecedented scale of death and destruction in World War I prompted the establishment of the first international organizations – the League of Nations and the International Labour Organization – and the first declarations and treaties to address domestic human rights issues, relating to children and minorities. The genocides, war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by Nazi forces in Europe and the Japanese Imperial Forces in east and south east Asia before and during World War II led to the strongest commitment yet to developing an international legal regime that would make such activities unthinkable. United Nations exhibit at Rockefeller Plaza, New York, March 1943. Close-up of photographic display and seals of the nations. Photo by Marjory Collins. 19 UDHR; OP. 2. 20 Hague Convention (IV) respecting the Laws and Customs of War on Land and its annex: Regulations concerning the Laws and Customs of War on Land; The Hague; 18 October 1907; see: www.icrc.org/ihl.nsf/intro/195?OpenDocument. 21 Hague Convention (IV); Annex, Section III; articles 42–56. 22 Hague Convention (IV); Annex, Section I.II; articles 4–20. 23 Hague Convention (IV); Annex, Section I.III; article 21. 10 | Chapter 3: What is international human rights law?