Which document laid the foundation for modern human rights?

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is pivotal in establishing the modern understanding of human rights as it articulates a comprehensive set of rights that belong to all individuals, regardless of nationality, ethnicity, or any other status. Adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948, it reflects a global consensus on fundamental human rights and serves as a common standard for all peoples and nations. The document outlines civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights, forming the basis for many subsequent human rights laws and treaties.

While the other documents, such as the Constitution of the United States and the Magna Carta, contributed significantly to the development of rights and liberties, they were more focused on specific nations or groups rather than universal principles applicable to all humanity. The Charter of the United Nations established the organization and its principles but did not encapsulate the detailed rights of individuals in the way the Universal Declaration does. Thus, the Universal Declaration is recognized as the foundational document that has inspired a global movement for the protection and realization of human rights worldwide.