On Human Rights
What are human rights?
Human rights are the rights that we have simply because we are human beings. They are based on the principles of equality, dignity, and respect for all people. Human rights are universal, meaning that they apply to everyone, everywhere, regardless of their nationality, ethnicity, religion, gender, or any other status. Human rights are also indivisible, meaning that they are all equally important and cannot be separated from one another. Human rights are also interdependent, meaning that the fulfillment of one right depends on the realization of other rights.
Some examples of human rights are the right to life, the right to liberty, the right to freedom of expression, the right to education, the right to health, and the right to work. These rights are recognized and protected by various international and regional instruments, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.
Human rights are not only legal obligations, but also moral values that guide our actions and decisions. They help us to live in peace and harmony with ourselves and others. They also empower us to claim our rights and to hold those who violate them accountable. Human rights are essential for the development of human potential and the well-being of all people.
What are some examples of human rights violations?
There are many examples of human rights violations around the world. Some of them are:
Genocide: This is the deliberate and systematic killing of a large group of people based on their ethnicity, religion, or nationality. Genocide is a grave violation of the right to life, as well as other rights such as the right to dignity, the right to equality, and the right to freedom from discrimination. One of the most notorious cases of genocide in history was the Holocaust, in which Nazi Germany killed about six million Jews and millions of other victims during World War II. Other examples of genocide include the Rwandan genocide of 1994, the Cambodian genocide of 1975-1979, and the Armenian genocide of 1915-1923.
Torture: This is the infliction of severe physical or mental pain or suffering on someone for a purpose such as obtaining information, punishment, intimidation, or coercion. Torture is a violation of the right to be free from cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment, as well as the right to personal integrity, the right to health, and the right to a fair trial. Torture is prohibited by international law and is considered a crime against humanity. However, torture still occurs in many countries, often by state agents such as police, military, or intelligence officers. Some examples of torture methods include electric shocks, waterboarding, beatings, rape, and sleep deprivation.
Arbitrary arrest: This is the detention of a person without a legal basis or due process. Arbitrary arrest is a violation of the right to liberty and security of person, as well as the right to a fair trial, the right to be presumed innocent, and the right to habeas corpus. Arbitrary arrest can be used to silence dissent, intimidate opponents, extort money, or extract confessions. Some examples of arbitrary arrest include the mass arrests of protesters in Belarus in 2020, the detention of Uighurs in China’s Xinjiang region, and the imprisonment of journalists and activists in Turkey. These are just some of the examples of human rights violations that happen around the world. You can learn more about human rights violations by visiting the websites of Human Rights Watch, [Amnesty International], or The Borgen Project. These are some of the organizations that monitor, document, and advocate for human rights. They also provide information on how you can take action to support human rights causes.
What is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a document that was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 10 December 1948. It is a landmark document that sets out the basic rights and freedoms that all human beings are entitled to, regardless of their race, religion, nationality, gender, or any other status. The UDHR consists of a preamble and 30 articles that cover civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights. Some of the rights in the UDHR include the right to life, liberty, and security of person, the right to equality before the law, the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, the right to education, the right to work, and the right to participate in the cultural life of the community.
The UDHR was drafted by a committee of experts from different countries and backgrounds, chaired by Eleanor Roosevelt, the widow of US President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The committee was influenced by various sources, such as the Magna Carta, the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, the US Bill of Rights, and the Charter of the United Nations. The UDHR was adopted by a vote of 48 in favor, none against, and eight abstentions. The abstaining countries were the Soviet Union, Ukraine, Byelorussia, Yugoslavia, Poland, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, and Czechoslovakia.
The UDHR is not a legally binding document, but it has inspired the development of many international and regional human rights treaties, such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. These treaties are legally binding on the states that ratify them and create obligations to respect, protect, and fulfill human rights. The UDHR also serves as a source of interpretation and guidance for the application of human rights law and standards. The UDHR is widely recognized as the most translated document in the world, with over 500 translations available.
The UDHR is a document that reflects the universal values and aspirations of humanity. It is a declaration of hope and dignity for all people. It is a reminder of our common responsibility to uphold and promote human rights for ourselves and others. It is a challenge to prevent and combat human rights violations and abuses. It is a vision of a world where everyone can enjoy freedom, justice, and peace.
What are human rights treaties?
Human rights treaties are international agreements that bind the states that ratify them to respect, protect, and fulfill the human rights of their people. However, enforcing human rights treaties is not an easy task, as there is no single authority that can compel states to comply with their obligations. Instead, there are various mechanisms that exist at different levels to monitor, evaluate, and promote the implementation of human rights treaties. Some of these mechanisms are:
Treaty bodies: These are committees of independent experts that review the reports submitted by states on how they are fulfilling their human rights obligations under the treaties they have ratified. The treaty bodies also issue general comments, concluding observations, and recommendations to guide and assist states in implementing the treaties. Some treaty bodies also have the power to receive and examine individual complaints or communications from people who claim that their rights have been violated by a state party. There are 10 treaty bodies that monitor the implementation of the core international human rights treaties.
Special procedures: These are independent human rights experts who are appointed by the Human Rights Council to report and advise on specific human rights issues or situations in all parts of the world. They can be either thematic (focusing on a particular right or topic) or country-specific (focusing on a particular country or region). The special procedures conduct fact-finding missions, receive and respond to allegations of human rights violations, engage in dialogue with governments and other stakeholders, and make recommendations to improve the protection and promotion of human rights. There are currently 44 thematic and 12 country-specific special procedures.
Universal Periodic Review: This is a unique process that involves a periodic review of the human rights records of all UN member states. The review is based on the information provided by the state under review, the reports of the treaty bodies and the special procedures, and the submissions of other stakeholders, such as civil society organizations and national human rights institutions. The review aims to assess the achievements and challenges of each state in fulfilling its human rights obligations, and to provide recommendations for improvement. The review also fosters cooperation and dialogue among states and other actors on human rights issues.
Human Rights Council: This is the main inter-governmental body within the UN system that is responsible for the promotion and protection of all human rights around the globe. It is composed of 47 states that are elected by the UN General Assembly for three-year terms. The council holds regular sessions to address human rights situations and issues, and adopts resolutions, decisions, and declarations on various human rights matters. The council also establishes and oversees the work of the special procedures, the universal periodic review, and other mechanisms, such as commissions of inquiry, fact-finding missions, and independent investigations, that respond to situations of serious violations of human rights.
These are some of the main mechanisms that can enforce human rights treaties at the international level. However, these mechanisms depend largely on the cooperation and goodwill of states, and their effectiveness can be limited by various factors, such as political pressure, lack of resources, or insufficient follow-up. Therefore, it is also important to have other mechanisms at the regional and national levels, such as regional human rights courts and commissions, national human rights institutions, civil society organizations, and the media, that can complement and support the international mechanisms in enforcing human rights treaties. Ultimately, the realization of human rights depends on the commitment and action of all actors, especially the states that have the primary responsibility to respect, protect, and fulfill the human rights of their people.