In order to live with
dignity certain basic rights and freedoms are necessary, which all Human beings
are entitled to, these basic rights are called Human Rights
Human rights demand recognition and respect for the inherent dignity to ensure
that everyone is protected against abuses which undermine their dignity, and
give the opportunities they need to realize their full potential, free
from discrimination.
Human rights are the rights a person has simply because he or she is a human
being. Human rights are held by all persons equally, universally, and forever.
“All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are
endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a
spirit of brotherhood.” Kant said that human beings have an intrinsic value
absent in inanimate objects. To violate a human right would therefore be a
failure to recognize the worth of human life.
Human right is a concept
that has been constantly evolving throughout human history. They have been
intricately tied to the laws, customs and religions throughout the ages. Most
societies have had traditions similar to the "golden rule" of
"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." The Hindu Vedas,
the Babylonian Code of Hammurabi, the Bible, the Quran (Koran), and the
Analects of Confucius are five of the oldest written sources which address
questions of people’s duties, rights, and responsibilities.
Different counties ensure these rights in different way. In India they are
contained in the Constitution as fundamental rights, i.e. they are guaranteed
statutorily. In the UK they are available through precedence, various elements
having been laid down by the courts through case law. In addition,
international law and conventions also provide certain safeguards.
Human rights refer to the "basic rights and freedoms to which all humans
are entitled." Examples of rights and freedoms which have come to be
commonly thought of as human rights include civil and political rights, such as
the right to life and liberty, freedom of expression, and equality before the
law; and social, cultural and economic rights, including the right to
participate in culture, the right to food, the right to work, and the right to
education. “A human right is a universal moral right, something which all men,
everywhere, at all times ought to have, something of which no one may be
deprived without a grave affront to justice, something which is owing to every
human simply because he is human.”
Human rights are
inalienable: you cannot lose these rights any more than you can cease being a
human being.
Human rights are
indivisible: you cannot be denied a right because it is "less
important" or "non-essential."
Human rights are
interdependent: all human rights are part of a complementary framework. For
example, your ability to participate in your government is directly affected by
your right to express yourself, to get an education, and even to obtain the
necessities of life.
Another definition for human rights is those basic standards without which
people cannot live in dignity. To violate someone's human rights is to treat
that person as though he or she was not a human being. To advocate human rights
is to demand that the human dignity of all people be respected.
In claiming these human rights, everyone also accepts the responsibility not to
infringe on the rights of others and to support those whose rights are abused
or denied.
Basic Requirements for Human Rights - Any society that is to protect human
rights must have the following characteristics -
1. A de-jure or free state in which the right to self-determination and rule of
law exist.
2. A legal system for the protection of human rights.
3. Effective organized (existing within the framework of the state) or
unorganized guarantees.
Classification - Human rights have been divided into three categories:
1. First generation rights which include civil and political rights.
2. Second generation rights such as economic, social and cultural rights.
3. Third generation rights such as the right of self-determination and the
right to participate in the benefits from mankind’s common heritage.
Human rights may be either positive or negative. An example of the former is
the right to a fair trial and an example of the latter is the right not to be
tortured.
Human rights are
fundamental to the stability and development of countries all around the world.
Great emphasis
has been placed on international conventions and their implementation in order
to ensure adherence to a universal standard of acceptability. With the advent
of globalization and the introduction of new technology, these principles gain
importance not only in protecting human beings from the ill-effects of change
but also in ensuring that all are allowed a share of the benefits. The impact
of several changes in the world today on human rights has been both negative
and positive.
