HUMAN RIGHTS
Overview
THE PATH OF
HUMAN RIGHTS
Human rights are not a privilege conferred by
government . They are every human being’s
entitlement by virtue of his humanity.
Mother Theresa
1600 A.C.
The theory of natural law, as explained
by the naturalist philosopher Locke :
In every human being, are inherent the
fundamental rights to life, liberty and
property.
The declaration of 1776 The declaration of 1789
American Revolution French Revolution
They solemnly
recognized that men
are created free and
equal and remain free
and equal in rights.
End of XIX and beginning of XX
Rights took on a broader meaning. The social
transformations of industrial society required other rights
to protect the weaker classes.
December 10, 1948 the UN General Assembly approved :
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
This document proclaims the main rights
of every man on the wave of indignation
caused by the atrocities committed
against civilians during the Second World
War, especially in the Nazi concentration
camps and following the detonation of the
atomic bomb in Japan.
1950
European Convention of Human
Rights
(ECHR)
In order to protect fundamental rights
The United Nations instituted in
1998 an International Criminal Court.
This was to monitor crimes such as
genocide, war crimes, extermination,
slavery, torture, rape and apartheid that
still committed in many countries.
2000
The European Union, with the
Treaty of Nice, proclaims :
the Charter of Fundamental Rights
Dignity Freedom Equality
Solidarity Citizenship Justice
29 October 2004
The Charter of Fundamental Rights is
implemented by the European
Constitution
The Charter of Fundamental
Rights of the European Union is a
document which further
establishes the fundamental
character and scope of human
rights for citizens of the Union.
The African Charter on Human Rights and the
Rights of the Peoples (1981) elaborated by the
Organization of African Unity (OAU) has less
emphasis on the individual and more on the
community, underlining the role of human
duties and community ethics: " promotion and
protection of the moral and traditional values
recognized by the community is a duty of the
state ”.
IN ASIA
In 1991, the Singapore government published the note
on the Shared Values, and in 1993 four Asian countries
(Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan and China) signed the
Bangkok Declaration. This launched a debate that
continued at the Vienna World Conference on Human
Rights (1993) .
The two documents criticized the individualistic nature of
human rights, disregarding oriental cultures (especially
Confucianism) and their share within the universal
declaration and the priority that, in principle, the rights
have in respect to the duties.
The violation of human
rights
also happens in the western world:
The death penalty is still applied even in
some American states
"Social, economic and cultural"
rights that postulate a duty of
solidarity on the part of the
community are not respected.
Death penalty :
Abolished for all crimes
Reserved for exceptional circumstances
Not used
Used as a form of legal punishment
Torture
In 2003, Amnesty International
reported cases of torture and ill-
treatment by security forces, police
officers etc. in 132 countries.
At least 20% of women,
internationally, have
suffered physical abuse
and sexual violence.
Various abuses in the world against
children:
exploitation, mistreatment, sexual
violence, etc.
Declaration of the rights of the
child (1959)
How difficult it is to think
that, even today,
fundamental human rights
are violated and often
remain unpunished.