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West Asian Human Rights Overview

The document provides an overview of human rights, including their definition, evolution, and importance, as well as theoretical perspectives on natural rights. It discusses key international human rights instruments like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the roles of various UN bodies and NGOs in promoting and protecting these rights. Additionally, it highlights contemporary human rights concerns affecting women, children, minorities, and the LGBTQIA+ community, along with issues related to fundamentalism, communalism, and terrorism.

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dzzara48
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Topics covered

  • Equality,
  • Global Human Rights Issues,
  • Social Freedoms,
  • Justice,
  • Human Rights Research,
  • Cultural Rights,
  • Human Rights Institutions,
  • Economic Rights,
  • Freedom of Speech,
  • Natural Rights
22 views4 pages

West Asian Human Rights Overview

The document provides an overview of human rights, including their definition, evolution, and importance, as well as theoretical perspectives on natural rights. It discusses key international human rights instruments like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the roles of various UN bodies and NGOs in promoting and protecting these rights. Additionally, it highlights contemporary human rights concerns affecting women, children, minorities, and the LGBTQIA+ community, along with issues related to fundamentalism, communalism, and terrorism.

Uploaded by

dzzara48
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Topics covered

  • Equality,
  • Global Human Rights Issues,
  • Social Freedoms,
  • Justice,
  • Human Rights Research,
  • Cultural Rights,
  • Human Rights Institutions,
  • Economic Rights,
  • Freedom of Speech,
  • Natural Rights

West Asian Studies - Human Rights Notes

I. Introduction to Human Rights

1. Human Rights: Meaning, Evolution, Importance

- Human rights are the fundamental rights and freedoms that every individual is entitled to, regardless of

nationality, gender, ethnicity, or religion.

- The evolution of human rights can be traced back to ancient civilizations, with modern human rights taking

shape after World War II.

- Human rights are important for promoting equality, justice, and the dignity of individuals.

2. Natural Rights: Theoretical Perceptions

- St. Thomas Aquinas: Believed in a divine natural law where rights come from God and are inherent.

- Thomas Hobbes: Proposed that in the state of nature, human life is "nasty, brutish, and short," and rights

are granted by the social contract.

- John Locke: Emphasized life, liberty, and property as natural rights granted to individuals.

- Jean Jacques Rousseau: Believed that humans are born free but are everywhere in chains due to societal

constraints.

3. Classifications of Human Rights

- Human rights can be classified into civil and political rights (first generation), economic, social, and cultural

rights (second generation), and collective rights (third generation).


II. UN and Human Rights

1. Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)

- Adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948, the UDHR outlines fundamental human rights to

be universally protected.

2. ICCPR & ICESCR

- The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) focuses on civil and political rights.

- The International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) deals with economic,

social, and cultural freedoms.

3. UN Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR)

- Established to oversee human rights compliance and report on violations, the UNCHR is part of the Human

Rights Council today.


III. Human Rights Institutions and Mechanisms

1. United Nations Human Rights Institutions

- The UN has various bodies like ECOSOC, the Security Council, and the Human Rights

Council to oversee global human rights issues.

2. NGOs: Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch

- These organizations play a crucial role in advocating for human rights, monitoring

violations, and holding governments accountable.

3. Media and Human Rights

- The media serves as a watchdog by reporting on human rights abuses and creating

awareness on global human rights issues.


IV. Human Rights Concerns

1. Issues of Women, Children, Minorities, LGBTQIA+

- Women, children, and LGBTQIA+ communities face unique challenges like discrimination,

gender-based violence, and unequal access to rights.

2. Fundamentalism

- Fundamentalism often leads to human rights abuses, particularly when it results in the

suppression of freedom of speech or religion.

3. Communalism

- Communalism leads to conflicts between different religious or ethnic groups, resulting in

violence and human rights violations.

4. Terrorism

- Acts of terrorism directly violate human rights by causing loss of life, freedom, and

security.

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