This ERIC Digest outlines what is meant by the phrase human rights and the origin of the concept. It also traces the delineation of the concept of human rights from the 17th century antecedent of "natural rights" to its eventual incarnation as inherent political or personal rights, such as freedom of speech, press, assembly, and religion. The theoretical framework which undergirds governments attempts to preserve, protect, and guarantee these rights is identified. Two philosophical approaches: negative rights and positive rights are identified. Negative rights refers to limiting the power of a government to protect the rights of an individual on the basis that this would result in a government too powerful and omnipotent. Positive rights maintains that the power of the government should be enhanced so that it can protect and guarantee certain things for the populace. Proponents of each type have witnessed conflict and consensus between the two as they have been debated. Over time there have been alternative perspectives on the universality of human rights presented by Pope John Paul II, the Enlightenment era philosophers, and the founders of America. Currently, the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights serves as a standard by which many people judge various countries' conditions of citizenship and government. Specific articles are identified within the United Nations Declaration that exemplify both positive and negative rights. The Digest identifies various sources of information concerning human rights education; two university-based centers, several web sites, print materials, and sources available through the United Nations. (MJP)