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2.5 Transitions in the Accountability of Human Rights Norms: Theshift from state responsibility to MNC obligation2.5.1 Theoretical origins of human rightsIn order to understand why an MNC may, in fact, have duties surrounding the human rightsof the people and communities in which they operate and market their product or service,it is first necessary to briefly review the theoretical origins of human rights. Although itmay seem intuitive that the human rights obligations of a population should exist only atthe state level, upon further analysis it becomes clear that the existence of human rightsnorms and standards and their application may indeed circumvent the unilateral and rigidformulations that have been espoused within the last century.The natural rights theory, based on the writings of Locks and Hobbes, holds that the rightsof an individual are “inalienable” and “unalterable”, originating from a metaphysical sourceeither through God or human nature. Hobbes introduced the term “right” into politicalphilosophy as a “right of nature” stating that the right of nature is the liberty each man hasto use his own power as he will himself, for the preservation of his own nature, that is tosay, of his own life, and consequently of doing anything which, in his own judgment andreason, he shall conceive to be the aptest means thereunto. Essentially for Hobbes, thestate of nature presented a war of all against all, where arguably, one person has the right totake something, and the other person has the right to defend his property. In other words,everyone had the right and liberty to protect him from attack however he could.Locke had greater faith in the civility of man and argued that natural rights stem fromGod’s creation of people as free and equal in the state of nature, and that, in this condition,no one is naturally sovereign over anyone else. As such, no person should harm anotherperson’s life, liberty or possessions. “The state of Nature,” Locke wrote, “has a law of Natureto govern it, which obliges every one: and reason, which is that law, teaches all mankindwho will but consult it, that being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm anotherin his life, health, liberty, or possessions.” 221 The defender of these natural rights wouldbe government, and any infringement of this duty would lead to its removal whereby thegovernment has threatened the life, liberty and property of the individual.The idea that human beings are egotistical and competitive presented itself as the foundationto many philosophical arguments in favour of securing order via political governance. Thisrequired a social contract by which members of society had to pledge allegiance to a statein return reinforcing the duty of the state to protect the rights of its citizens, as well asPrivate Sector Accountability in Combating the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children|49