ABSTRACT
Understanding about rights as a concept has developed slowly in human society, driven by the world’s great religions, early philosophers and more recently by activist groups and international bodies. Changes in perception of what is right or wrong in individual situations can conversely occur quite quickly, as demonstrated by changing attitudes to slavery, women’s rights and gay and transgender issues. Typically, pioneers raise a moral issue, often to derision and sometimes persecution, before gradually gaining acceptance from a growing proportion of civil society, politicians and other figures of influence. There will be manifestos and statements of support. In time these come from mainstream sources and lead to changes in laws and policies. For these changes to stick, there must be general acceptance by the mass of the population. Progress is seldom uniform between social groups or countries. Rights come and go and it is naïve to assume that once gained, a particular set of rights can never be eroded. Until recently, the debate has only been about human rights; rights of non-humans have emerged much more slowly.
