CONCEPT OF HUMAN

RIGHTS
LEARNING OBJECTIVES

■ Define Human Rights

■ Appreciate and Explain the Origin and History of Human Rights
■ Differentiate the three categories of Human Rights
■ Explain the 6 Core Principles of Human Rights
 ■ Human rights are a set of
principles that recognize and
protect the dignity and value of
all human beings.
Meaning of
Human ■ According to UNICEF, Human
Rights governs how individual
Rights human beings live in society and
interact with each other, as well
as their relationship with the
State and the obligations that the
State have towards them.
The Origin and History of Human Rights

17th and 18th

1688 English
Cyrus Cylinder – Centuries:
Natural Law 1215 Magna Carta Glorious
539 BC Revolutions and
Revolution
Nationalism

1865 13th 19th and 20th

1833 Slavery 1789 French 1755 American
Amendment to the Centuries
Abolition Act Revolution Revolution
US Constitution Development

1948 The Creation

1864 The First 1919 International 1945 New United
of Universal
Geneva Labour World War II Nations
Declaration of
Convention Organization Organization
Human Rights
3 Categories of BASIC
Human Rights HUMAN
•Civil and Political Rights
RIGHTS
•Economic, Social, and PRINCIPLE
Cultural Rights
•Solidarity or Collective
Rights
 ■ Right to life, liberty and personal
security
■ Right to equality before the law
■ Right of protection against
Civil Rights arbitrary arrest
■ Right to the due process of law
■ Right to a fair trial
■ Right to religious freedom and
worship
 ■ Right to speech and expression
■ Rights to assembly and
association
■ Right to vote and political
participation
Political
Rights Political rights guarantee
individual rights to
involvement in public affairs
and the affairs of State
(Landman, 2006)
 Economic,
Social and Economic Rights include
rights necessary for adequate standard of
Social and
living.
- right to a family
Cultural
- right to education
- right to property
Rights
- right to work
Cultural rights – meant to maintain and
promote sub-national cultural affiliations
Economic,
and collective identities, and protect
minority communities against incursions
Social and
of national assimilationist and nation
building projects (Landman, 2006)
Cultural
- right to indigenous land
- right to rituals
Rights
- right to shared cultural practices
- right to speak one’s own
language
 Article 28 of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights –
“everyone is entitled to a social
and international order in which
the rights set forth in this
Solidarity or declaration can be fully realized.

Collective These rights seek to guarantee that all

Rights individuals and groups have the right to

share in the benefit of the earth’s
natural resources as well as those
goods and products that are made
through processes of economic growth,
expansion. And innovation.
CORE PRINCIPLES
OF HUMAN
RIGHTS
6 Core Principles of Human Rights

1. Universality and Inalienability

2. Indivisibility
3. Interdependence and Interrelatedness
4. Equality and Non-discrimination
5. Participation and Inclusion
6. Accountability and Rule of Law
Universality – means that we are all
equally entitled to human rights. Human 1.
rights must be afforded to everyone,
without exception. (UDHR, Article 2, Universality
1948) and
Inalienability
Inalienability
■ Human rights cannot be voluntarily
given
■ Human rights cannot be taken away
from you
Denial of one right invariably
impedes the enjoyment of other
rights. 2.
Indivisibility
Thus, the right of everyone to an
adequate standard of living cannot
be compromised at the expense of
other rights (Flowers, 1999)

It recognizes that if a government

violates rights such as health, it
necessarily affects people’s ability
to exercise other rights such as the
right to life.
Each one contributes to the 3.
realization of a person’s human
dignity through the satisfaction of Interdepen
his or her developmental, dence and
physical, psychological, and Interrelate
spiritual needs (UNFPA, 2005).
dness
The fulfillment of one right often
depends, wholly or in part, upon
the fulfillment of others.
Equality – all individuals are equal as
human beings and by virtue of the inherent 4. Equality
dignity of each human person (UNFPA,
2005). and Non-
discriminati
Non-discrimination – no person shall
suffer discrimination on the basis or race, on
color, gender, ethnicity, language, religion,
political or other opinions, national, social
or geographical origin, disability, property,
birth, or another status as established by
human rights standards (UDHR, Article 7,
1948).
Participation – all persons have the 5.
right to participate in and access
information relating to the decision-
making processes that affect their lives
Participation
and well-being (UNIVEF, 2005). and
Inclusion
Inclusion
■ Requires a high degree of
participation by communities, civil
society, minorities, women, young
people, indigenous peoples, and
other identified groups.
States and other duty-bearers are
answerable for the observance of 6.
human rights (UNICEF, 2005).
Accountability
and Rule of
When they fail to comply with the legal
norms, aggrieved right-holders are Law
entitled to institute proceedings for
appropriate redress before a competent
court or other adjudicators in
accordance with the rules and
procedures provided by law.