HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION

Second Semester, SY 2020-21

Atty. Jan Kristy Y. Pastor

INTRODUCTION

I. What are Human Rights?

 Human rights are standards that allow all people to live with dignity, freedom,
equality, justice, and peace. Every person has these rights simply because they are
human beings. 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. Human rights are essential to the full
development of individuals and communities.
(https://www.theadvocatesforhumanrights.org/human_rights_basics)

 Human rights are moral claims which are inalienable and inherent in all individuals
by virtue of their humanity alone, irrespective of caste, color, creed, and place of
birth, sex, cultural difference or any other consideration. These claims are
articulated and formulated in what is today known as human rights. Human rights
are sometimes referred to as fundamental rights, basic rights, inherent rights,
natural rights and birth rights.
 Dr. Justice Durga Das Basu defines “Human rights are those minimal rights, which
every individual must have against the State, or other public authority, by virtue of
his being a ‘member of human family’ irrespective of any consideration”.
( https://www.slideshare.net/anam1994/human-right-education-112696585 )
 Human rights are the basic rights and freedoms that belong to every person in the
world, from birth until death. They apply regardless of where you are from, what
you believe or how you choose to live your life. They can never be taken away,
although they can sometimes be restricted – for example if a person breaks the
law, or in the interests of national security. These basic rights are based on shared
values like dignity, fairness, equality, respect and independence. These values are
defined and protected by law. (https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/human-
rights/what-are-human-rights)*
  The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), 1948, defines human rights as
“rights derived from the inherent dignity of the human person.”  Human rights
when they are guaranteed by a written constitution are known as “Fundamental
Rights” because a written constitution is the fundamental law of the state.

According to the United Nations:

Human rights are rights that we have simply because we exist as human
beings- they are not granted by any state. These universal rights are inherent to us
all, regardless of nationality, sex, national or ethnic origin, color, religion, language,
or any other status. They range from the most fundamental - the right to life - to
those that make life worth living, such as the rights to food, education, work,
health, and liberty.
(https://www.ohchr.org/en/issues/pages/whatarehumanrights.aspx )

II. Characteristics of Human Rights

a. Human Rights are Inalienable - Human rights are conferred on an individual due to
the very nature of his existence. They are inherent in all individuals irrespective of
their caste, creed, religion, sex and nationality. Human rights are conferred to an
individual even after his death.
b. Human Rights are Essential and Necessary - In the absence of human rights, the
moral, physical, social and spiritual welfare of an individual is impossible. Human
rights are also essential as they provide suitable conditions for material and moral
upliftment of the people.
c. Human Rights are in connection with human dignity - To treat another individual
with dignity irrespective of the fact that the person is a male or female, rich or poor
etc. is concerned with human dignity.
d. Human Rights are Irrevocable - They cannot be taken away by any power or
authority because these rights originate with the social nature of man in the society
of human beings and they belong to a person simply because he is a human being.
e. Human Rights are Necessary for the fulfillment of purpose of life - Human life has a
purpose. The term “human right” is applied to those conditions which are essential
for the fulfillment of this purpose.
 f. Human Rights are Universal - Human rights are not a monopoly of any privileged
class of people. Human rights are universal in nature, without consideration and
without exception. The values such as divinity, dignity and equality which form the
basis of these rights are inherent in human nature.
g. Human Rights are never absolute – Man is a social animal and he lives in a civic
society, which always put certain restrictions on the enjoyment of his rights and
freedoms. Human rights as such are those limited powers or claims, which are
contributory to the common good and which are recognized and guaranteed by the
State, through its laws to the individuals. As such each right has certain limitations.
h. Human Rights are Dynamic – Human rights are not static, they are dynamic.
Human rights go on expanding with socio-eco- cultural and political developments
within the State. Judges have to interpret laws in such ways as are in tune with the
changed social values.
i. Human Rights are limits to state power – Human rights imply that every individual
has legitimate claims upon his or her society for certain freedom and benefits. So
human rights limit the state’s power.
( https://www.slideshare.net/anam1994/human-right-education-112696585 )

Why are Human Rights Important?

Human rights reflect the minimum standards necessary for people to live with
dignity. Human rights give people the freedom to choose how they live, how they express
themselves, and what kind of government they want to support, among many other
things. Human rights also guarantee people the means necessary to satisfy their basic
needs, such as food, housing, and education, so they can take full advantage of all
opportunities. Finally, by guaranteeing life, liberty, equality, and security, human rights
protect people against abuse by those who are more powerful.
( https://www.theadvocatesforhumanrights.org/human_rights_basics )

TEN REASONS WHY HUMAN RIGHTS ARE IMPORTANT

1. Human rights ensure people have basic needs met

Everyone needs access to medicine, food and water, clothes, and shelter. By including
these in a person’s basic human rights, everyone has a baseline level of dignity.
Unfortunately, there are still millions of people out there who don’t have these necessities,
but saying it’s a matter of human rights allows activists and others to work towards
getting those for everyone.

2. Human rights protect vulnerable groups from abuse

The Declaration of Human Rights was created largely because of the Holocaust and the
horrors of WII. During that time in history, the most vulnerable in society were targeted
along with the Jewish population, including those with disabilities and LGBT. Organizations
concerned with human rights focus on members of society most vulnerable to abuse from
powerholders, instead of ignoring them.

3. Human rights allow people to stand up to societal corruption

The concept of human rights allows people to speak up when they experience abuse and
corruption. This is why specific rights like the right to assemble are so crucial because no
society is perfect. The concept of human rights empowers people and tells them that they
deserve dignity from society, whether it’s the government or their work environment.
When they don’t receive it, they can stand up.

4. Human rights encourage freedom of speech and expression

While similar to what you just read above, being able to speak freely without fear of brutal
reprisal is more expansive. It encompasses ideas and forms of expression that not
everybody will like or agree with, but no one should ever feel like they are going to be in
danger from their government because of what they think. It goes both ways, too, and
protects people who want to debate or argue with certain ideas expressed in their society.

5. Human rights give people the freedom to practice their religion (or not practice any)

Religious violence and oppression occur over and over again all across history, from the
Crusades to the Holocaust to modern terrorism in the name of religion. Human rights
acknowledge the importance of a person’s religion and spiritual beliefs, and lets them
practice in peace. The freedom to not hold to a religion is also a human right.

6. Human rights allows people to love who they choose

The importance of freedom to love cannot be understated. Being able to choose what
one’s romantic life looks like is an essential human right. The consequences of not
protecting this right are clear when you look at countries where LGBT people are
oppressed and abused, or where women are forced into marriages they don’t want.

7. Human rights encourage equal work opportunities

The right to work and make a living allows people to flourish in their society. Without
acknowledging that the work environment can be biased or downright oppressive, people
find themselves enduring abuse or insufficient opportunities. The concept of human rights
provides a guide for how workers should be treated and encourages equality.

8. Human rights give people access to education

Education is important for so many reasons and is crucial for societies where poverty is
common. Organizations and governments concerned with human rights provide access to
schooling, supplies, and more in order to halt the cycle of poverty. Seeing education as a
right means everyone can get access, not just the elite.

9. Human rights protect the environment

The marriage between human rights and environmentalism is becoming stronger due to
climate change and the effects it has on people. We live in the world, we need the land,
so it makes sense that what happens to the environment impacts humanity. The right to
clean air, clean soil, and clean water are all as important as the other rights included in
this list.

10. Human rights provide a universal standard that holds governments accountable

When the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was released, it had a two-fold
purpose: provide a guideline for the future and force the world to acknowledge that during
WWII, human rights had been violated on a massive scale. With a standard for what is a
human right, governments can be held accountable for their actions. There’s power in
naming an injustice and pointing to a precedent, which makes the UDHR and other human
right documents so important. ( https://www.humanrightscareers.com/issues/10-reasons-
why-human-rights-are-important/ )

Pre-Test (To be submitted by Friday, April 9, 2021)

Do your own research on the basic human rights under the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights, and relying on your basic understanding on what Human Rights is all
about, pick the best answer among the given choices by underlining the statement you
agree with. You may add an explanation to your answer for bonus points.

(Note: This is only a pre-test. All the items here will be explained as the course is
completed. A post-test will be conducted later to evaluate topic comprehension)

1. A child who is only 17 years old is hired to work at a factory. Is this child
labor, and thus
A. it is a violation of the rights of the child.
B. it is a violation of the rights of the child, especially if the task is dangerous.
C. may be acceptable if the government has set the minimum working age to be below 17
years

Explanation to chosen answer:

2. The right to water means

A. governments have the obligation to provide their citizens with clean and healthy water.
B. governments are not permitted to discriminate against some citizens in terms of
supplying water.
C. governments are not permitted to deny their citizens access to a water.

Explanation to chosen answer:

3. Death penalty as a form of punishment to criminals

A. is generally illegal all over the world.
B. had been abolished or is no longer practiced by more than 50% of all countries in the
world.
C. cannot be imposed upon those who are aged below 18.

Explanation to chosen answer:

4. Social and economic rights
A. are not considered as real human rights.
B. cannot be expected to be immediately fulfilled by the state for all its citizens.
C. cannot be claimed by all citizens.

Explanation to chosen answer:

5. Under the right to education

A. Anybody can establish a school, if they can comply with the legal requirements.
B. There are no obligations in terms of the subjects and courses taught in school.
C. Governments are obliged to provide compulsory basic education.

Explanation to chosen answer:

6. Freedom of religion is a human right which

A. cannot be denied to people simply because they belong to a minority sect.
B. obliges countries to recognize and financially support religions.
C. cannot be restricted in any way by the government.

Explanation to chosen answer:

7. Right to property
A. means the state is never allowed to take possession of a private property
B. is violated if government takes a private property without due compensation
C. enables an individual to claim ownership of properties he or she has stolen.

Explanation to chosen answer:

8. On the right to elect government leaders

A. All citizens must be allowed to vote, even if those found guilty of serious crimes.
B. A capitalist employer can vote twice, while worker can only vote once.
C. Ballot secrecy is held sacred.

Explanation to chosen answer:

9. Freedom of expression
A. may be restricted and regulated in order to guard against defamation
B. can never be restricted even for public morality reasons.
C. can be restricted to in order to protect against religious intolerance.

Explanation to chosen answer:

10. The right to work

A. holds the government responsible for providing employment for all its citizens
B. includes the right not to be fired from work without due cause.
C. means the government has to make sure that all workers receive high salaries.

Explanation to chosen answer:

11. The right to a healthy environment

A. Prohibits countries from dumping toxic waste in the ocean.
B. has the goal of human, flora and fauna protection.
C. is not yet accepted by all nations as a universal right.

Explanation to chosen answer:

12. When facing a case in court:

A. every criminal has the right to be represented by a legal counsel or lawyer.
B. the accused can be convicted only if he or she confesses to the crime.
C. the accused can request for an interpreter if he or she cannot understand the language
used in the trial.

Explanation to chosen answer:

13. There is violation to the right to life if:

A. Death is due to an accidental killing by the police while on a legitimate operation.
B. Death is because of a “legal” act of war.
C. Death is because of unnecessary violence by the military.

Explanation to chosen answer:

14. The right to health care means:

A. Governments should pay for all hospital bills.
B. All citizens must have access to health care.
C. Government should pay for all medications.

Explanation to chosen answer:

15. Under the right to freedom of movement

A. A person may not be allowed to reside in a certain residence due to public security.
B. there is a violation of the freedom to movement when a visa is denied due to criminal
conviction.
C. A criminal may be restricted from living anywhere he or she pleases, and may be
imprisoned by the state.

Explanation to chosen answer:

*** Send your completed Answer sheets to jankristypastor@gmail.com.

Good luck!