ABSTRACT
The contemporary human rights regime and the conception of universal human rights embodied within it is built upon a long history of political and philosophical theorising about the rights and duties of individuals and communities. Yet the contemporary concept of human rights, at least in regard to its scope and content, now has clear cosmopolitan components and is perhaps the most powerful expression of cosmopolitanism in the realm of global politics. The contemporary philosophical and political dialogue on human rights has been greatly influenced by the natural rights tradition. Although the natural rights perspective has often been criticized by various competing theories it is nevertheless generally regarded as the primary precursor of contemporary human rights doctrine and remains an important concept in philosophy, politics and law. From the end of the Second World War the promotion and protection of human rights has rapidly assumed increased global salience.
