An edited version of Mr. Edmund Bon’s opening speech at the inaugural Bar Council Human Rights Debate given on 9 December 2008. In his speech his explains the germination and eventual evolution of human rights and its development within the framework of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights (‘UDHR’). He also discusses the qualities of human rights and deals with the cultural and political criticisms against human rights. Finally, he enjoins us to embrace human rights and use it as a weapon against oppression by government.