Lesson

Human Dignity, Rights,

3 and the Common Good

As citizens, we always think of the promotion of the common good or general welfare. To
become a responsible citizen, there is a need to promote the common good such as
obeying the law, volunteering in the community, paying taxes honestly, informing himself
about important political issues, and respecting the rights of others. He or she is willing to
sacrifice his individual interests for the collective good of the nation. This is called inclusive
citizenship wherein the government should create a program that will provide all

citizens a strong sense of belonging to the society.

Human rights are inalienable rights that protect people’s dignity as human beings.
These give them the rights to choose, to live, to love, to property, to make their living, to
practice one’s profession, to vote and to be voted, among others. These assure people the
means to fulfill their basic needs. By guaranteeing life, liberty, equality, and security, human
rights protect people against abuse by those who are more powerful.
 http://www.theindependentbd.com/assets/news_images/Human-rights3.jpg

Human Dignity referred to an individual or group's sense of self-respect and self-

worth, physical and psychological integrity and empowerment It is stated in the United
Nations’ declaration of human rights the recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal
and inalienable rights of all members in the society.

As cited by Saluba, Dennis J. et. al. (2016), deviance is inevitable. Human dignity,
rights and common good should be righteously extended to deviants by the society itself.
Even if the person is a deviant and a criminal, he or she should be respected and treated
justly as a human being. Violating his or her rights means treating him or her inhumanely.
Accordingly, the common good is espoused with human rights that provides benefits to
the society.

The principles of Human rights, human dignity and common good advocate the
belief in the inherent dignity and worth of every human being.

Human Rights Education is a means towards social change; a tool to transform the
theory and practical applications into everyday social practice.
Civil rights deal with standards of judiciary and penal systems.
Political rights deal with specific components of participation in political power.
Economic rights deal with the sphere of human beings working, producing and
servicing.
Social rights deal with standard of living and quality of life for all persons, including those
not participating in economic activities.
Cultural rights deal with the cultural sphere of life including ethnic culture, subcultures,
arts and science.
“All human rights are universal, indivisible and interdependent and interrelated. The
international community must treat human rights globally in a fair and equal manner, on
the same footing, and with the same emphasis.

While the significance of national and regional particularities and various historical,
cultural and religious backgrounds must be borne in mind, it is the duty of States,
regardless of their political, economic and cultural systems, to promote and protect all
human rights and fundamental freedoms.”
(The Vienna Declaration and Program of Action (June 1993, Paragraph 5)
Human Rights Principles
The rights that someone has simply because he or she is a human being & born into this
world.
CORE PRINCIPLES:
1. Human Dignity
2. Equality
3. Non-discrimination
4. Universality
5. Interdependency
6. Indivisibility
7. Inalienability
8. Responsibilities
Three obligations of action
1. Respect
2. Protect
3. Fulfil

Four obligations of process:

1. Non-discrimination
2. Adequate progress
3. Participation
4. Effective remedy
Source: Universal Declaration of Human Rights