HUMAN RIGHTS
Human Rights are an entitlement that has that one has simply because one is a
human being.
Entitlements are claims or freedoms.
Historical Development of Human Rights.
Human Rights have always existed. Throughout history of mankind one can see
through rules and laws that elements of human rights were acknowledged. In
recognition of the “golden rule” Do unto others as you had have do unto you,
which summarizes rights and responsibilities, found in the Christian Bible has
similar sayings in the Hindu, Vedas, the Islam Quran, the Babylonian code of
Hammurabi and the analects of Confucius an ancient religion of China are
examples of the recognition of human rights in various parts of the world.
Other documents mentioning individual human Rights are:
The magna Carta of 1215
The charter of Mande of 1222
The English Bill of Rights of 1689
The French declaration on the rights of man and citizens 1789
The US constitution and the Bill of Rights 1791
The Magna Carta was the earliest document in the World in which Human Rights
were recognized. In Africa the charter of Mande was the earliest documents
which were guaranteed Soundiata Keita, the king of the empire of Mali who was
also called Mande.
However, the above listed documents were not universal in nature because they
often excluded women, children, slaves and persons of certain Social, Religious,
economic or political groups.
Human rights as we know them today only came about after the revolution of the
terrible, cruel and violent killings of the Jews, Sinti and Romani (gypsies) people.
Homosexuals and persons with disabilities under the hands of the Nazi Germans
that took place during the Second World War horrified the world. Governments
then decided give time and energy to establishing the United Nations in 1945 with
the idea of promoting international peace and preventing conflict.
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Members countries of the United Nations promised to promote Human rights for
all and do this they formed a Commission on Human Rights and gave it the duty of
drafting a document putting in writing the meaning of fundamental rights and
freedoms that had been declared in the charter. The Commission was chaired by
Eleanor Roosevelt, who was the wife of the president Franklin Delano Roosevelt
the then president of the United States of America. The Commission came up
with the Universal Declaration on Human Rights (UDHR)
The Universal Declaration Human Rights Was adopted on 10 th December, 1948 by
the member sates of the United Nations.
However, it should be noted that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is not
legally binding because it is only a declaration. A declaration is a pronouncement
which may be effected or not.
Characteristics of Human Rights
Human Rights are Inherent
Inherent is that which is a natural gift. Inherence means that which is an essential
part of something and taking it away means that something is no longer what it is
supposed to be. Therefore Human Rights can only be violated denied but not
taken away. They are inherent because we are all born with them. They cannot be
transferred from one person to another.
Human Rights are Inalienable
Inalienable means those things that cannot be taken away or separated or given
away. Human Rights cannot be forfeited or diminished by one’s failure to
exercise them even though one can be unaware of his or her rights. They are legal
(lawful) entitlement for all members of society.
Human Rights are Universal
Human Rights are Universal because they apply to all people every where in the
world and are the same regardless of religion, political, geographical, beliefs
nationality or social status.
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Indivisible, interdependent and interrelated
They are indivisible because all rights are equally important and they cannot be
divided or subtracted from. There is no Hierarchy (high or low rank) in humans
Rights. Every right has equal status. They should be enjoyed in totality.
Categories of Human Rights.
Civil and Political Rights
They are called First Generation Rights. These are first generation rights because
they were the first Rights to be recognized as rights of the individual and places
obligation on the government not to interfere with the life of the individual. They
are found in the Zambian Constitution.
Right to life
Right to person liberty
Protection from slavery or forced labour
Freedom of conscience
Protection of freedom of assembly and association
Protection of the freedom of movement
Economic, social and cultural Rights
Economic and Cultural rights are called “Second Generation Rights” This category
consists of rights that are economic, social and Cultural in Nature.
Right to food
Right to employment
Right to social Security
Right to education
Right to health (Medical Care)
Right to clean environment
Right to development
Right to adequate housing
Collective Rights
These are also known as ´Third Generation Rights’ they are the most recently
identified rights. The term collective rights refer to the rights of Peoples’
The term third generation human rights” means largely unofficial, and thus
houses an extremely broad spectrum of rights, including:
Group and collective rights
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Right to self determination
Right to economic and social Development
Right to a healthy environment
Right to Natural resources
Right to peace
Right to communicate
Right to Participation in cultural Heritage
Significance of Human Rights
Human Rights focus on the dignity of the human being. Dignity is honour,
importance, self esteem and respect that a human being is entitled to.
Respect for every ones life, their physical and mental integrity, freedom,
property, privacy including ones own. This means that you do not physically
abuse anyone either b y causing them pain or touching them in any away
that they do not want.
Respect for differences either in sex, ethnicity, language, colour, age,
religion, cultural aspects, opinion, and identity of others and one’s own.
Taking up ones responsibility in society: Rights come with responsibilities
and responsibilities start with respecting other people’s rights.
Respecting the fact that people have legally established claims and
entitlements.
Recognizing Accountability and responsibility in relationship between the
individual, institution or state that has a duty to fulfill the rights called ‘duty
bearer and the person who has the rights called ‘’ rights holder’.
Rights- holders need to be empowered in order for them to claim their
rights and take part in public decision making. Empowerment is giving the
rights holders the knowledge and skills they need to claim, access or enjoy
their rights.
Participation is an important Human Right. People of both sexes and all
ages have the right to participate in every area of their lives
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