英語の読解力を伸ばすには多読が必須！特に、TOEFL ibt というテストでは、かなり高度な読解力が必要ですし、何より、このTOEFL ibt という試験が難しいことの理由の１つに、日本語でも勉強していないアカデミックな内容の文章が出題されることです。
このクエストを進めれば、英語の読解力と知識を同時にアップデートさせられるでしょう！
さぁ、今日のクエストを進めてみましょう！

Passage

Title: The Evolution of International Human Rights Law

International human rights law is a branch of law that has evolved over time to address the protection and promotion of human rights on a global scale. It encompasses a range of legal principles, treaties, and mechanisms designed to safeguard the inherent dignity and freedoms of individuals, regardless of their nationality or any other status. This passage explores the historical development and key milestones in international human rights law.

The origins of international human rights law can be traced back to the aftermath of World War II. The atrocities committed during the war, including the Holocaust and widespread human rights abuses, prompted the international community to reflect on the need for a framework to prevent such horrors from recurring. The United Nations, established in 1945, became the central forum for discussions on human rights and the drafting of international instruments to protect them.

One of the foundational documents in international human rights law is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1948. The UDHR enshrines a comprehensive set of rights and freedoms, including civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights. While not legally binding, the UDHR has served as a guiding document and a source of inspiration for subsequent treaties and conventions.

Building upon the UDHR, a multitude of international treaties and conventions have been established to protect specific human rights. For instance, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), both adopted in 1966, form the cornerstone of human rights protection by legally binding states to uphold these rights.

Another significant milestone in international human rights law is the establishment of regional human rights mechanisms. These mechanisms, such as the European Convention on Human Rights and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, provide additional layers of protection and oversight at the regional level, complementing the global framework.

Over time, the scope of human rights law has expanded to address emerging challenges and concerns. Issues such as the rights of women, children, indigenous peoples, and refugees have gained increased attention and led to the development of specialized treaties and instruments focused on these areas. Additionally, human rights law has evolved to incorporate new challenges, including the protection of privacy in the digital age and the rights of individuals in armed conflict.

The evolution of international human rights law reflects the ongoing commitment of the international community to protect and promote the inherent dignity and freedoms of all individuals. From its origins in the aftermath of World War II to the establishment of key treaties and regional mechanisms, international human rights law continues to adapt and respond to new challenges. The protection of human rights remains a fundamental principle of the global community, and the development of this legal framework serves as a beacon for progress and justice worldwide.

Questions

1. According to the passage, what is the purpose of international human rights law?
   A. To promote national interests
   B. To safeguard individual dignity and freedoms
   C. To enforce global governance
   D. To address economic inequalities

2. What prompted the international community to reflect on the need for international human rights law?
   A. The establishment of the United Nations
   B. The atrocities committed during World War II
   C. The rise of regional human rights mechanisms
   D. The adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

3. Which of the following best describes the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)?
   A. A legally binding treaty
   B. A document adopted by the United Nations
   C. A regional mechanism for human rights protection
   D. A specialized treaty focused on the rights of women

4. What do the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) aim to achieve?
   A. Regional human rights protection
   B. Protection of privacy in the digital age
   C. Comprehensive set of rights and freedoms
   D. Legally binding obligations for states to uphold human rights

5. How do regional human rights mechanisms contribute to the protection of human rights?
   A. They establish global legal principles.
   B. They provide oversight at the regional level.
   C. They focus on specialized areas of human rights.
   D. They guide the drafting of international instruments.

6. Which of the following is an example of an emerging concern addressed by international human rights law?
   A. Protection of individuals in armed conflict
   B. Promotion of national security interests
   C. Regulation of international trade agreements
   D. Preservation of cultural heritage sites

7. What is the ongoing commitment of the international community mentioned in the passage?
   A. Promotion of economic development
   B. Protection of individual freedoms and dignity
   C. Implementation of regional human rights mechanisms
   D. Establishment of legal principles at the global level

8. According to the passage, what is the significance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?
   A. It establishes legally binding obligations for states.
   B. It serves as a guiding document for subsequent treaties.
   C. It focuses on the protection of economic and social rights.
   D. It addresses the emerging challenges of the digital age.

9. How has the scope of human rights law expanded over time?
   A. By emphasizing national sovereignty over individual rights
   B. By excluding the rights of women and children
   C. By addressing specialized areas of human rights
   D. By promoting economic interests over social welfare

10. What principle does the development of international human rights law serve as?
    A. A source of inspiration for global governance
    B. A beacon for progress and justice worldwide
    C. A means to enforce regional human rights mechanisms
    D. A guideline for protecting national security interests

Answers and Explanation

1. According to the passage, what is the purpose of international human rights law?
   B. To safeguard individual dignity and freedoms
   Explanation: The passage states that international human rights law is designed to safeguard the inherent dignity and freedoms of individuals, regardless of their nationality or any other status.

2. What prompted the international community to reflect on the need for international human rights law?
   B. The atrocities committed during World War II
   Explanation: The passage mentions that the atrocities committed during World War II, including the Holocaust and widespread human rights abuses, prompted the international community to reflect on the need for a framework to prevent such horrors from recurring.

3. Which of the following best describes the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)?
   B. A document adopted by the United Nations
   Explanation: The passage states that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1948. It enshrines a comprehensive set of rights and freedoms.

4. What do the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) aim to achieve?
   D. Legally binding obligations for states to uphold human rights
   Explanation: The passage mentions that the ICCPR and the ICESCR, adopted in 1966, form the cornerstone of human rights protection by legally binding states to uphold these rights.

5. How do regional human rights mechanisms contribute to the protection of human rights?
   B. They provide oversight at the regional level.
   Explanation: The passage states that regional human rights mechanisms provide additional layers of protection and oversight at the regional level, complementing the global framework.

6. Which of the following is an example of an emerging concern addressed by international human rights law?
   A. Protection of individuals in armed conflict
   Explanation: The passage mentions that human rights law has evolved to incorporate new challenges, including the protection of individuals in armed conflict.

7. What is the ongoing commitment of the international community mentioned in the passage?
   B. Protection of individual freedoms and dignity
   Explanation: The passage mentions that the ongoing commitment of the international community is to protect and promote the inherent dignity and freedoms of all individuals.

8. According to the passage, what is the significance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?
   B. It serves as a guiding document for subsequent treaties.
   Explanation: The passage states that while not legally binding, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) has served as a guiding document and a source of inspiration for subsequent treaties and conventions.

9. How has the scope of human rights law expanded over time?
   C. By addressing specialized areas of human rights
   Explanation: The passage mentions that over time, the scope of human rights law has expanded to address emerging challenges and concerns, such as the rights of women, children, indigenous peoples, and refugees, leading to the development of specialized treaties and instruments focused on these areas.

10. What principle does the development of international human rights law serve as?
    B. A beacon for progress and justice worldwide
    Explanation: The passage concludes by stating that the development of international human rights law serves as a beacon for progress and justice worldwide.

Translation

タイトル：国際人権法の進化

国際人権法は、時間をかけて発展してきた法の一分野であり、国籍やその他の地位に関係なく、個人の固有の尊厳と自由を保護し促進するための法的原則、条約、仕組みを包括しています。この文章では、国際人権法の歴史的な発展と主要な節目について探究します。

国際人権法の起源は第二次世界大戦の直後にさかのぼることができます。ホロコーストや広範な人権侵害など、戦争中に犯された残虐行為は、国際社会に再発防止のための枠組みの必要性を考えさせました。1945年に設立された国際連合は、人権に関する議論と国際的な保護手段の草案作成の中心的なフォーラムとなりました。

国際人権法の基礎的な文書の一つは、1948年に国連総会で採択された「世界人権宣言（UDHR）」です。UDHRは市民的、政治的、経済的、社会的、文化的な権利を含む包括的な権利と自由を確立しています。法的に拘束力はありませんが、UDHRは後続の条約や協定の指針となり、インスピレーションの源となっています。

UDHRに基づいて、特定の人権を保護するために多くの国際的な条約や協定が設立されています。例えば、1966年に採択された「市民的および政治的権利に関する国際規約（ICCPR）」と「経済的、社会的、文化的権利に関する国際規約（ICESCR）」は、国家にこれらの権利を守る義務を法的に拘束しています。

国際人権法におけるもう一つの重要な節目は、地域人権メカニズムの設立です。ヨーロッパ人権条約や米州人権委員会などのこれらのメカニズムは、地域レベルで追加の保護と監視を提供し、グローバルな枠組みを補完しています。

時間の経過とともに、人権法の範囲は新たな課題や懸念に対応するために拡大してきました。女性の権利、子どもの権利、先住民の権利、難民の権利などの問題が注目を集め、これらの分野に焦点を当てた特化した条約や文書の開発を促しました。また、人権法はデジタル時代のプライバシー保護や武力紛争下の個人の権利など、新たな課題を取り入れるように進化しました。

国際人権法の進化は、国際社会が全ての個人の固有の尊厳と自由を保護し促進するという持続的な取り組みを反映しています。第二次世界大戦の直後から主要な条約や地域的なメカニズムの設立まで、国際人権法は新たな課題に適応し続けています。人権の保護は、国際社会の基本的な原則であり、この法的枠組みの発展は進歩と正義の指針となっています。