Human rights are the rights a person has simply because he or she is a human being. Every person is entitled to certain fundamental rights simply by the fact of being human. They are rights because they are things a human being is allowed to be, to do or to have. These rights are there for our protection against people who might want to harm or hurt us. Human rights are held by all persons equally, universally, and forever. In a nutshell, human rights are standards that allow all people to live with dignity, freedom, equality, justice, and peace. They are guaranteed to everyone without distinction of any kind, such as race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, or other status. Ss YY In past ages, there were no human rights. Then the idea emerged that people should have certain freedoms. That idea, in the wake of World War II, resulted finally in the document called the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the thirty rights to which all people are entitled. 131 EVERYUniversal Declaration of Human Rights On October 24, 1945 A.D., in the aftermath of World War Il, the United Nations came into being as an intergovernmental organization, with the purpose of saving future generations from the devastation of international conflict. The stated purpose of the UN is to bring peace to all nations of the world. After World War II, a committee of persons headed by Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, the wife of US President Franklin D. Roosevelt, wrote a special document which “declares” the rights that everyone in the entire world should have. It was called the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). international document Aa ee eae ‘haci @ Guinness Book of Records Hatspelied Guttiie Basie fo (extedieloc mda O DL cee tasale civil, political, economic, ‘Most Translated Document’ in social and cultural rights [Rigor ch rare eei ai ell that all human beings constitutive document of the should enjoy! United Nations. 132Here is a list of 30 essential laws in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Article 1 Article 2 Article 3 Article 4 Article 5 Article 6 Article 7 Article 8 Article 9 Article 10 Article 11 Article 12 Article 13 Article 14 Article 15 Article 16 Article 17 Article 18 Article 19 Article 20 Article 24 Article 22 Article 23 Right to Equality Freedom from Discrimination Right to Life, Liberty, Personal Security Freedom from Slavery Freedom from Torture and Degrading Treatment Right to Recognition as a Person before the Law Right to Equality before the Law Right to Remedy by Competent Tribunal Freedom from Arbitrary Arrest and Exile Right to Fair Public Hearing Right to be Considered Innocent until Proven Guilty Freedom from Interference with Privacy, Family, Home and Correspondence Right to Free Movement in and out of the Country Right to Asylum in other Countries from Persecution Right to a Nationality and the Freedom to Change It Right to Marriage and Family Right to Own Property Freedom of Belief and Religion Freedom of Opinion and Information Right of Peaceful Assembly and Association Right to Participate in Government and in Free Elections Right to Social Security Right to Desirable Work and to Join Trade Unions _ ,,,Article 24 —_- Right to Rest and Leisure Article 25 —_ Right to Adequate Living Standard Article 26 —_ Right to Education Article 27 —_ Right to Participate in the Cultural Life of Community Article 28 ~—_- Right to a Social Order that Articulates this Document Article 29 Community Duties Essential to Free and Full Development Article 30 Freedom from State or Personal Interference in the above Rights Let’s study some of the important laws: 1.Right to Equality. 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. 2.Right to Equality before the Law. All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination. 3.Right to Nationality and the Freedom to change it. Everyone had the right to a nationality. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality. 4.Right to Rest and Leisure. Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay. §.Right to Education. Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and iafundamental stages. Elementary education shall becompulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit. Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace. Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children. The Characteristics of Human Rights Human rights have some key qualities, agreed by the international community. All human beings are born with equal and inalienable rights and fundamental freedoms. Human rights are based on dignity, equality and mutual respect — regardless of our nationality, religion, or beliefs. Our rights are about being treated fairly, treating others fairly, and having the ability to make choices about our own life. These basic human rights are: LOIN TW pai teye le Human rights belong to all people. INALIENABLE “Human rights cannot be taken away. INTERCONNECTED Human rights are dependent on one another, TWAS elas Human rights cannot be treated in isolution. ieee SIVINTNG@)S@ | Human rights should be respected without prejudice,The Importance of Human Rights Every person has dignity and value. Human rights are the basic rights that people from around the world have agreed are essential. These human rights are the same for all people everywhere; men and women, young and old, rich and poor, regardless of our background, where we live, what we think or what we believe. This is what makes human rights ‘universal’. Human rights cover virtually every area of human activity. They include civil and political rights, which refer to the right to vote, the right to privacy, freedom of speech and freedom from torture. They also include economic, social and cultural rights, which relate as the right to health, the right to education and the right to work. Human rights are important in the relationships that exist between individuals and the government that has power over them. The government exercises power over its people. However, human rights mean that this power is limited. States have to look after the basic needs of the people and protect some of their freedoms. Some of the most important features of human rights are the following: « They are for everyone. * They are internationally guaranteed. * They are protected by law. * They focus on the dignity of the human being. * They protect individuals and groups. * They cannot be taken away. 136Human rights are an important part of how people interact with others at all levels in society; in the family, the community, schools, the workplace, politics and international relations. It is vital therefore that people everywhere should strive to understand what human rights are. Values of tolerance, equality and respect can help reduce friction within society. Putting human rights ideas into practice can help us create the kind of society we want to live in. 137