HUMAN RIGHTS
CHARACTERISTICS
What are human rights?
Human rights are
those rights that
every human being
possesses and is entitled
to enjoy
simply by virtue of being human.
Put in another way,
they are those rights
which are
inherent in our nature,
without which,
we cannot
live as human beings.
Basic characteristics of human rights
Human rights are generally characterized
as:
• INHERENT
• FUNDAMENTAL
• INALIENABLE
• IMPRESCRIPTIBLE
• INDIVISIBLE
• UNIVERSAL, and
• INTERDEPENDENT
Inherent
Because they are not granted
by any person or authority
Ex. Right to dignity as a
human being
Fundamental
Because without them the life and the
dignity of human beings will be
meaningless.
- Right to liberty, freedom of thought or
religion
Inalienable
Because they cannot be rightfully taken
away from a free individual
Ex. Freedom from torture
Imprescriptible
Because they cannot be lost
even by a long passage of time
Ex. Freedom of thought, conscience and
religion
Indivisible
Because they are not capable of being divided.
They cannot be denied even when other rights
have already been enjoyed.
Ex. Freedom of expression of belief
or opinion
Interdependent
Because the fulfillment or exercise of one
cannot be had without the realization
of the other
Ex. Right to life and existence cannot
be realized without the right to work.
According to struggle & recognition,
human rights are classified as:
1) First generation rights - covers
civil and political rights
2) Second generation rights - covers
economic, social and cultural
rights
3) Third generation rights - covers
collective rights
Philippines is a signatory to
international agreements
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights
International Covenant on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights.
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms
of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)
1993 World Conference on
Human Rights
Reaffirmed that human rights
are the birthright of all
human beings.
The protection of
human rights
is the first responsibility
of government.
Gender Mainstreaming Strategy:
The ULTIMATE GOAL is
GENDER EQUALITY
And hence has to be RIGHTS-BASED
A Rights-Based Approach
to
Development
A way of looking at
development
Poverty is not just about absence
of commodities and services
to meet needs, but rather a
question of disempowerment.
Development
should enable people
to empower themselves
to live the lives they value.
Development is the process of
realizing human dignity.
Human rights are
standards for human dignity.
Development seeks the
full realization of rights.
A rights-based approach...
Everybody has the right to
development:
Development
is not charity;
it is an obligation.
Human right imply human
duties:
There are
claim holders and duty-holders
in development
There are
accountabilities
in the development process
A rights-based approach to
development is both:
A way of doing development:
From needs to rights:
integrating human rights in
development practice
HUMAN RIGHTS
The agenda to eradicate poverty
through the
economic empowerment
of women is
inextricably tied
to the ability of government to
protect and more importantly advance
their human rights.