This chapter examines the development of the post-World War II rules-based international order, highlighting challenges to human rights and contrasting this with the historical milestones that emerged immediately after World War II and that shaped international human rights law, including the U.N. Charter’s emphasis on individual freedoms. It details pivotal events such as U.S. President Roosevelt’s “Four Freedoms” speech, the Atlantic Charter, the Dumbarton Oaks Conference, and the San Francisco Conference, which collectively embedded human rights into global governance frameworks. By analyzing the drafting of the U.N. Charter and the eventual creation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the chapter underscores the evolution of human rights as a fundamental tenet of international law, demonstrating the role of states, NGOs, and historical context in shaping a system aimed at ensuring global peace, security, and individual dignity.