The Principles on Equality are based on legal concepts that have evolved in international,
regional and national human rights or equality jurisprudence. Although
many of the terms employed in the Declaration are sufficiently well established, the
resulting conception of equality in its entirety opens a new space for standard development
in the international human rights system. The purpose of this note is not
to detail the linkages between the Principles and existing jurisprudence. Instead, it
provides background and draws attention to some of the strengths of the Declaration
which would allow it to be described as a step forward in promoting equality
and human rights.