Explain the connection between the Cold War and human rights?

The Cold War significantly influenced the discourse on human rights, as both the United States and the Soviet Union sought to promote their ideologies while critiquing the other's record on human rights abuses. The U.S. emphasized civil and political rights, using human rights as a tool to delegitimize communist regimes, while the Soviet Union focused on economic and social rights, arguing that capitalism led to inequality and oppression. This ideological rivalry propelled international human rights frameworks, culminating in documents like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. Ultimately, the Cold War's geopolitical tensions helped shape the modern human rights movement, highlighting the importance of human rights across both political spectrums.