Introduction

Historical background of human rights

Definition of human rights

Special features of human rights

List of some universal rights

Generations of rights

State responsibility for human rights

Debates on human rights

Human rights are basic to humanity. They

apply to all people everywhere.

An understanding of human rights is an

important part of

our individual status as human beings and

our collective status as members of the global

community of humankind.

The belief that everyone, by virtue of her or

his humanity, is entitled to certain human

rights is fairly new.

Its roots lie in earlier traditions and

documents of many cultures.

The concepts of ethical behavior, justice and

human dignity have been important in the

development of human societies.

The Hindu Vedas, the Babylonian Code of

Hammurabi, the Bible, the Quran, and the

Analects of Confucius, Tripitaka are some of

the oldest written sources which address

questions of peoples duties, rights, and responsibilities.

All societies, whether in oral or written

tradition, have had systems of propriety and

justice as well as ways of tending to the

health and welfare of their members.

Concepts of ethics, justice and dignity are central to Buddhism,

Christianity, Hinduism, and Islam.

Buddhism

Respect for all lives and high level of compassion

Selfless attitude to attain enlightenment

Christianity

Universal ethics: morality and mutual respect to serve God.

Respect for others Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Islam

Lifting the burdens of the less fortunate

The Qur-an speaks to justice, freedom, mercy, compassion and

respect for all human beings.

In 6th century BC, Cyrus the Great, the first king

of ancient Persia, conquered the city of Babylon.

He freed the slaves, declared that all people had

the right to choose their own religion, and

established racial equality.

These rights were recorded on the Cyrus

Cylinder, now recognized as the worlds first charter of human rights.

The UN has declared it to be an "ancient

declaration of human rights" since 1971,

approved by then Secretary General Sithu U

Thant.

An important strand in this thinking was that

there was a Roman concept of natural law individuals tented to follow certain rights and law based on rational ideas from

the nature.

Natural law is the theory or belief that

certain rights exist independently of any

government's granting of those rights.

Examples of natural law:

Right to be free

Right to think

Right to enjoy natural resources

Right to defend yourself

Documents asserting individual rights, such

as the Magna Carta (1215), the Petition of

Right (1628), the English Bill of Rights (1689),

the US Constitution (1787), the French

Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the

Citizen (1789) are the written precursors to

many of todays human rights documents.

The atrocities of World War I & II put an end

to the traditional view that states have

full liberty to decide the treatment of

their own citizens.

The signing of the UN Charter on 26 June

1945 brought human rights within the sphere

of international law. In particular, all UN

members agreed to take measures to protect

human rights.

The Charter contains a number of articles

specifically referring to human rights. Less

than two years later, the UN Commission on

Human Rights (UNCHR), established early in

1946, submitted a draft Universal Declaration

of Human Rights (UDHR).

The UN General Assembly (UNGA) adopted

the Declaration in Paris on 10 December

1948. This day was later designated Human

Rights Day.

During the 1950s and 1960s, more and more

countries joined the UN. Upon joining they

formally accepted the obligations contained

in the UN Charter, and doing so subscribed to

the principles and ideals laid down in the

UDHR.

Since the 1950s, the UDHR has been backed

up by a large number of international

conventionsmost significantly ICCPR and ICESCR.

At the same time, many supervisory

mechanisms have been created, including

those responsible for monitoring compliance

with the two Covenants.

Religious ideas

The Hindu, the Bible,

the Koran, the Code

of Hammurabi and

the Analects of

Confucius address

questions of

peoples duties, rights, and

responsibilities

.

Written documents

asserting individual

rights,

- the Magna Carta

(1215),

- the Petition of Right

(1628),

-the French

Declaration on the

Rights of Man and

Citizen

(1789),

-the US Constitution

and Bill of

Rights (1791)

On December 10,

1948,

the Universal

Declaration

of Human Rights

(UDHR) was adopted

by the 58 members

of the UN.

There is no universally agreed definition of

human rights.

The concept of human rights is continually

evolving along side with the human society.

Rights are related to the values that societies

live by.

These values have their origins in the worlds greatest religions and philosophies.

Jack Donnelly (2003)

Human rightsthe right of manare, literally, the rights that one has because one is human.

The concept of human rights acknowledges

that every single human being is entitled to

enjoy his or her human rights without

distinction as to race, color, sex, language,

religion, political or other opinion, national

or social origin, property, birth or other

status.

The following are some of the most

important characteristics of human rights.

Universal

Inalienable

Inherent

Indivisible and interdependent

Equal and non-discriminatory

The right to life, liberty and security of person

The right to health

The right to a fair trial

The right to vote

The right to equal protection of the law

The right to just and favorable working conditions

The right to food, adequate housing and social security

The right to education

The right to a nationality

The right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty

The right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law

The right to an effective judicial remedy

The right to marry and to found a family

The right to take part in the government

Freedom from slavery and servitude

Freedom from torture and cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment

Freedom from arbitrary arrest, detention or

exile

Freedom of movement

Freedom of assembly and association

Freedom of thought, conscience and religion

Generations of rights were proposed by Karel

Vasak (Czech) at the International Institute

of Human Rights in 1979.

This division is influenced by the French

Revolution (1789) with the adoption of the

French Declaration.

It is based on the main principles of the

French Revolution: Liberty, Equality and

Fraternity (brotherhood).

1st generation (civil and political rights in

nature)

2nd generation (economic, social and cultural

rights in nature)

3rd generation (collective rights)

The obligation to respect

State must refrain from interfering with or

curtailing the enjoyment of human rights.

The obligation to protect

State must protect individuals and groups against

human rights abuses.

The obligation to fulfill

State must take positive actions/measures to

facilitate the enjoyment of human rights.

Western concept?

Universalism vs. Cultural relativism?