Human Rights

On December 10, 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was adopted by the 56 members of the United Nations. The vote was unanimous, although eight nations chose to abstain. The UDHR, commonly referred to as the international Magna Carta, extended the revolution in international law ushered in by the United Nations Charter namely, that how a government treats its own citizens is now a matter of legitimate international concern, and not simply a domestic issue. It claims that all rights are interdependent and indivisible. Its preamble eloquently asserts that: Recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.

Underlying Principles of Human Rights 1. Equality The equality concept expresses the notion of respect for the inherent dignity of all human beings. 2. Universality Certain moral and ethical values are shared in all regions of the world, and governments and communities should recognize to uphold them. 3. Nondiscrimination Nondiscrimination is integral to the concept of equality. It ensures that no one is denied the protection of their human rights based on some external factors. 4. Human dignity The principles of human rights are founded on the notion that each individual, regardless of age, culture, faith, ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation, language, disability or social class, deserves to be honored or esteemed. 5. Inherent They are innate, natural, and inborn in every person; They are not granted by any authority. 6. Inalienability

They cannot be separated, transferred, taken away, lost or surrendered regardless of who or what the person does. 7. Indivisibility Human rights should be addressed as an indivisible body, including civil, political, social, economic, cultural, and collective rights. 8. Interdependence and Interrelated Human rights concerns appear in all spheres of life home, school, workplace, courts, markets everywhere! Human Rights violations are interconnected; loss of one right detracts from other rights. Similarly, promotion of human rights in one area supports other human rights.

9. Imprescritible They do not have any limit; they have no expiration period.

10.Responsibility a. Government Responsibility: human rights are not gifts bestowed at the pleasure of governments. Nor should governments withhold them or apply them to some people but not to others. When they do so, they must be held accountable. b. Individual Responsibility: Every individual has a responsibility to teach human rights, to respect human rights, and to challenge institutions and individuals that abuse them. c. Other responsible entities: Every organ of society, including corporations, nongovernmental organizations, foundations, and educational institutions, also shares responsibility for the promotion and protection of human rights. Categories of Human Rights According to source: a. Natural rights rights which are God-given. They may be unwritten but acknowledged bu everyone as morally good. b. Constitutional rights rights enshrined in the constitution.

c. Statutory rights rights which are provided by law, promulgated by lawmaking body, and therefore may be abolished by the same body. According to recipient: a. Individual rights rights accorded to individuals such as the right to life, education, health, work;etc. b. Collective rights these are also known as peoples rights or solidarity rights enjoyed by groups of people or only in the company of others.

According to aspects of life: a. Civil rights rights which the law accords to private individuals for the purpose of securing the enjoyment of their means and happiness. (e.g. right to life, freedom of expression, association, speech, movement, right to marry and form a family, etc.) b. Political rights rights which enable an individual to participate (directly or indirectly) in running the affairs of the government (e.g. right to vote, information on matters of public concern, etc.) c. Economic and Social rights rights which the law confers upon the people to enable them to achieve social and economic development, thereby ensuring their well-being, happiness and financial security. (e.g. right to work and job compensation, right to property, health, food etc.) d. Cultural rights rights that ensure the well-being of an individual and foster the preservation, enrichment and dynamic evolution of national culture based on the principle of unity in diversity in a climate of free, artistic and intellectual expression. (e.g. right to participate in cultural life; rights to cultural identity, among other) e. Solidarity rights the right to development, the right to environment and the right to peace are so called rights of solidarity. Rights and Responsibilities Integral to learning about ones human rights is learning about the responsibilities that accompany all rights. Just as human rights belong to both individuals and society as a whole, the responsibility to respect, defend, and promote human rights is both individual and collective. The Preamble of the UDHR, calls not only on governments to promote human rights, but also on every individual and every organ of society. Human rights education provides the knowledge and awareness needed to meet this responsibility.