Objectives
At the end of the unit learners will be able to:
❖ Define human rights
❖ Recognize basic human rights
❖ Appreciate the importance of human rights
❖ Conceptualize a rights based approach to health
❖ Identify nurses role in client centered health care approach
DEFINITION: HUMAN RIGHTS
A right which is believed to belong to every person.
HUMAN RIGHTS are rights to which all human beings are
entitled just because they are human, regardless of the society,
the culture, or the times in which they live.
Human Rights are the rights that all people have by virtue of
being human beings. Human Rights are derived from the
inherent dignity of the human person and are defined
internationally, nationally and locally by various law making
bodies.
Basic Human Rights
RIGHTS – moral power
-to hold (rights to life, nationality, own property, rest and leisure),
-to do (rights to marry, peaceful assembly, run for public office,
education),
-to omit (freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading
punishment
- to exact something (equal protection of the law, equal access to
public service, equal pay for equal work)
Basic Human Rights
Right of security of life, property and honour
Freedom from torture.
Freedom from slavery.
Right to a fair trial.
Freedom of speech.
Freedom of religion.
Freedom to move freely.
Right to seek education.
Basic Human Right
Right of using facilities of transportation.
Right of facilities in the treatment of diseases.
Right of defense against foreign foes.
Right to vote.
Right to express freely.
UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF
HUMAN RIGHTS
Article 1. Right to Equality
Article 2. Freedom from Discrimination
Article 3. Right to Life, Liberty, Personal Security
Article 4. Freedom from Slavery
Article 5. Freedom from Torture and Degrading Treatment
Article 7. Right to Equality before the Law
Article 8. Right to Remedy by Competent Tribunal
Article 9. Freedom from Arbitrary Arrest and Exile
UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF
HUMAN RIGHTS
Article 10. Right to Fair Public Hearing
Article 11. Right to be Considered Innocent until Proven Guilty
Article 12. Freedom from Interference with Privacy, Family, Home and
Correspondence
Article 13. Right to Free Movement in and out of the Country
Article 14. Right to Asylum in other Countries from Persecution
Article 15. Right to a Nationality and the Freedom to Change
Article 16. Right to Marriage and Family
Article 17. Right to Own Property
UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF
HUMAN RIGHTS
Article 18. Freedom of Belief and Religion
Article 19. Freedom of Opinion and Information
Article 20. Right of Peaceful Assembly and Association
Article 21. Right to Participate in Government and in Free Elections
Article 22. Right to Social Security
Article 23. Right to Desirable Work and to Join Trade Unions
Article 25. Right to Adequate Living Standard
Article 24. Right to rest and leisure
Article 26. Right to Education
UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF
HUMAN RIGHTS
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
SOME CIVIL RIGHTS
Life Belief In Own Religion
Opinion Free Speech
Non-Discrimination
SOME POLITICAL RIGHTS
Vote in elections
Freely form or join political parties
Live in an independent country
Stand for public office
Freely disagree with views and policies of political leaders
SOME ECONOMIC RIGHTS
Jobs Work without exploitation
Fair wage
Safe working conditions
Form trade unions
Have adequate food
Protection against labour malpractices
SOME SOCIAL RIGHTS
Housing Education
Health services
Recreation facilities
Clean environment
social security
SOME CULTURAL RIGHTS
Use own language
Develop cultural activities
Ancestral domains
Develop own kind of schooling
Importance of Human Rights
Human rights are important because no one
should be abused or discriminated against, and
because everyone should have the chance to
develop their talents.
These fundamental human rights should be “a
common standard of achievement for all
peoples and nations”, They are the basic rights
that all human beings should enjoy, respect and
protect.
Importance of Human Rights
Human rights provides the foundation for peace, harmony, security
and freedom in our community.
Human rights embody key values in our society such as
fairness,dignity,equality and respect. Most importantly, these rights
give us power and enable us to speak up and to challenge poor
treatment from a public authority.
Importance of Human Rights International human rights law lays
down obligations which States are bound to respect. By becoming
parties to international treaties, States assume obligations and duties
under international law to respect, to protect and to fulfil human
rights.
Importance of Human Rights
The obligation to respect means that States must refrain
from interfering with or curtailing the enjoyment of human
rights.
The obligation to protect requires States to protect
individuals and groups against human rights abuses.
The obligation to fulfill means that States must take
positive action to facilitate the enjoyment of basic human
rights.
Rights based approach to health
“The right to health does not mean the right to be healthy, nor does
it mean poor governments must put in place expensive health
services for they have no resources. But it does require authorities
put in place policies and action plans which lead to available and
accessible health care for all in the shortest possible time. To ensure
that this happens is the challenge facing both the human rights
community and public health professionals.”
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson
Rights based approach to health
First expression of the right to health: The WHO Constitution (1946)
“The States parties to this Constitution declare, in conformity with the
Charter of the United Nations, that the following principles are basic to the
happiness, harmonious relations and security of all peoples.
Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and
not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. The enjoyment of the
highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of
every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief,
economic or social condition
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)
Art.25.1 “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate
for the health of himself and of his family, including food, clothing,
housing and medical care and necessary social services”
Rights Based Approach To Health
Rights based approach to health Follow the principles of:
Availability
Accessibility
Acceptability
Quality of health services
Client – Centered Care
An approach to care planning and support which empowers individuals to
make the decisions about what they want to happen in their lives. These
decisions then form the basis for any plans that are developed and
implemented.
Client Centred Values
Individuality
Independence
Rights
Respect
Choice
Dignity
Privacy
Partnership
Nurses role in client centered health care
approach
The individual – someone requiring care or support.
Families, friends, advocates. Those of importance to the
individual.
Others around the individual – Team members and colleagues,
other professionals.
References
ABAYA, [Link] and the Filipino. 2nd edition.
MandaluyongCity: National Book Store, 119-126 pp.
COQUIA, J.R. 2000. Human Rights. QuezonCity: Central
Professional Books Inc., 1-35 pp.
“Human Rights.” December 2012:Diffun, Quirino. 7 June 2013
[Link]
“Human Rights in the Philippines.” Diffun, Quirino. 7 June
2013 <[Link]