The 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights provides an account of entitlements which is universal, encompassing all humans. Does this correspond with a universal account of obligation?

Abstract

The 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights enshrined the belief that every individual, regardless of nationality, was entitled to a life of equality, dignity and worth. The prevailing language of rights obscured the need to be specific about who is obliged to respond. Nations, peoples, states and societies are all gestured to as agents against whom individuals may have rights. However, little is said of any differences between these varying types of agents. In the face of global transformations, people’s lives are affected by many different actors in global politics. The balance of power has changed and the adequacy of relying solely on the state as the primary agent of justice is called into question. A more promising approach, must involve the non-state actor, in particular, the multinational and transnational corporation. For human rights to be universal -encompassing all actors- we must find the legitimate normative basis on which to assign moral obligations to the collective agent.