Human Rights
Senior Youth Leadership Training
Author: Mollie Deteh
Date: 13th October 2024
Human Rights at a glance…
Human rights are:
fundamental rights.
Freedoms
Entitled to all individuals, regardless of nationality, sex, ethnicity, religion, or
any other status.
Inherent to all human beings
Enshrined in international law
Serves to protect individuals from abuse
Promotes dignity, equality, and justice.
History of Human Rights
The concept of human rights has evolved over centuries, with roots in various
philosophical, religious, and cultural traditions:
Ancient Civilizations: The Code of Hammurabi in Babylon, The philosophies of
Socrates, Confucius.
Religious Texts: the teachings of Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam.
The Enlightenment: John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau.
Revolutions and Declarations: The American and French Revolutions, The
Declaration of Independence (1776), The Declaration of the Rights of Man and
of the Citizen (1789).
Post-World War II Era: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in
1948.
Continued Development: The International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights (1966), The Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989).
Components of Human Rights
First Generation Rights (Civil and Political Rights):
Right to life, liberty, and security, Freedom of speech and expression, Right to
a fair trial, Freedom from torture and inhumane treatment
Second Generation Rights (Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights):
Right to work and fair wages, Right to education,Right to health and
adequate living standards, Right to social security
Third Generation Rights (Collective and Developmental Rights):
Right to self-determination, Right to development, Right to a healthy
environment, Right to peace
Human Rights Treaties
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)(1948)
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) (1966)
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
(ICESCR)(1966)
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women
(CEDAW)(1979)
Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)(1989)
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)(2006)
Promotes the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities.
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial
Discrimination (ICERD)(1965)
Basic Human Rights
Right to Life
Right to Liberty and Security
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of Assembly
Right to Privacy
Right to Education
Right to Work
Human Rights Violations
Torture and Inhumane Treatment
Extrajudicial Killings
Discrimination
Suppression of Free Speech
Forced Displacement
Denial of Basic Needs
Child Labour and Exploitation
Human Rights: Kenyan perspective
Historical Context
Colonial Era: Forced labour, land dispossession, and repression of dissent.
Post-Independence Challenges: Political repression, arbitrary detentions and
torture of political opponents.
Democratization Efforts: Increased advocacy, push for multiparty democracy.
civil society, legal reforms, respect for human rights.
Constitutional Framework
Kenya's 2010 Constitution
Bill of Rights; Chapter Four of the Constitution
Equality and Freedom from Discrimination.
Right to Life
Cont. Human Rights: Kenyan
Perspective
Key Human Rights Issues
Freedom of Expression: Threats, harassment, and censorship.
Police Brutality: Extrajudicial killings, torture, and excessive use of force by law
enforcement
Gender-Based Violence: Domestic violence, sexual assault, and harmful cultural
practices like FGM.
Rights of Marginalized Groups: Ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities, and
LGBTQ+ individuals
Access to Justice: Barriers to accessing justice, corruption within the judiciary
and the high cost of legal representation.
Land Rights: Disputes over land ownership, marginalized communities, evictions
and conflicts.
Human Rights and the Church
Global presence and commitment: Human rights is integral to its mission of
service, compassion and social justice I reflecting the image of God.
Fundamental beliefs and core values: This commitment to human rights is
reflected in the church's beliefs, teachings, policies, and practices, which
prioritize the well-being and rights of every individual.
Humanitarian and social justice initiatives: Through organizations such as the
Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), the church provides a wide
range of humanitarian efforts, including disaster relief, healthcare, education,
and community development.
Advocacy and education efforts: Raise awareness about human rights issues
and promote social change through publications, By integrating human rights
principles into its mission and ministry, the Adventist Church strives to fulfill its
calling to be agents of God's love and justice in the world.
Cont. Human Rights: Kenyan
perspective
Civil Society and Advocacy
Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR)
Human Rights NGO: Organizations like
Amnesty International Kenya
Kenya Human Rights Commission
Conclusion
Human rights serve as a vital framework for ensuring dignity and justice
worldwide. Their ongoing development reflects the evolving understanding
of human dignity and the need for protection against violations.
While the church in Kenya has made significant strides in promoting human
rights, challenges remain. Ongoing advocacy, legal reforms, and public
awareness are essential to ensuring that all Kenyans can fully enjoy their
rights and freedoms.
“ To deny people their human
rights is to challenge their very
humanity
Nelson Mandela, South African Civil Rights Activist
”
THE END!