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Introduction to Human Rights

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Graeme Eyre
Graeme Eyre

This document provides an introduction to key concepts related to human rights. It defines human rights as moral principles that underlie standards of human behavior and are inherent to all people. It discusses examples of human rights violations throughout history. It also summarizes several important international agreements related to human rights, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Geneva Convention, the European Convention on Human Rights, and the UK Human Rights Act. For homework, students are asked to explore the website of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and present on a human rights issue.

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Global Connections – Human Rights Introduction to Human Rights An introduction to Human Rights and the Human Rights Section of the Global Connections Unit
Global Connections – Human Rights
Global Connections – Human Rights Key Concepts Human Rights – moral principles that underlie standards of human behaviour. They are commonly understood as inalienable and fundamental rights ‘to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being’ and which are ‘inherent in all human beings’ regardless of their nation, location, language, religion, ethnic origin or any other status. They are universal in the sense of being applicable everywhere, and they are egalitarian in the sense of being the same for everyone.
Global Connections – Human Rights
Global Connections – Human Rights Is access to the Internet a human right?
Global Connections – Human Rights Violations of Human Rights Can you think of any times or places when human rights have been violated?
Global Connections – Human Rights
Global Connections – Human Rights Universal Declaration of Human Rights • UNDR set 30 universal rights – the ware wide ranging including: • Freedom of Movement • Freedom of Speech • Education • Justice • This is important as it links to human development. • Adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1948 • 48 Voted in Favour, 8 Abstentions • It is not a treaty, it is not legally binding. • Defines ‘fundamental freedoms’ and ‘human rights’ • All 193 members of the UN are bound to recognise and respect all articles of the declaration.
Global Connections – Human Rights Which countries abstained? • Former Yugoslavia • South Africa • USSR (and 4 satellites) • Saudi Arabia Why do you think these countries abstained?
Global Connections – Human Rights UDHR – Used for International Leverage • Violations of UDHR have been used to justify a number of military interventions. • Promises of aid has been used a lever to persuade other countries to improve their Human Rights record.
Global Connections – Human Rights Globalisation and Human Rights Transnational integration and increased mobility have both strengthened and diminished the protection of human rights. • On the one hand this has enhanced the ability of civil society to work across borders and promote human rights. • It has enabled organisations to gain power and perpetrate violations. Can you think of examples of how globalisation has impacted human rights?
Global Connections – Human Rights Geography and Human Rights • Violations of human rights have occurred in many different prts of the world in both ACs, LIDCs. And EDCs. • Child Labour • People Trafficking • Genocide • Modern Slavery • Many development programmes and the steps towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals and Sustainable Development Goals are human rights led.
Global Connections – Human Rights Key Term Human Rights Norms – represent ways of living that have been inculcated into the culture of a country or area over long periods of time.
Global Connections – Human Rights Legal Agreements on Human Rights Geneva Convention European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) UK Human Rights Act A series of four treaties applied at times of armed conflict to protect people not taking part in the conflict (including prisoners of war). The first treaty was signed by sixteen European countries and some American states in 1864. This was followed by treaties in 1906, 1929 and 1949. The current Geneva Convention has been ratified by 196 countries, but not all have agreed to the subsequent protocols. This convention, like the UDHR, comprises of a number of articles, each setting out a specific human right. Coming into force in 1953, it has played an important part in development an awareness of human rights in Europe. It was a response to: 1. Violations of human rights that occurred during WWII. 2. Post ware spread of communism in Central and Eastern Europe. Violations of the convention come before the European Court of Human Rights. This act, passed in 1998 incorporated into UK law the rights contained in the ECHR. It manes that any breach of the convention's rights can be heard in the UK courts and need not go to the European Court of Human Rights. However, appeals related to the verdicts of UK courts in such cases can be sent to, and possibly overturned by, the European Court. This has led some to believe that the UK has lost some of its sovereignty.
Global Connections – Human Rights The UK Human Rights Act How do these compare to the UDHR?
Global Connections – Human Rights Homework http://www.ohchr.org/en/issues/pages/listofissues.aspx Visit the website of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human rights; look at the list of issues. Are there any that surprise you? Pick an issue from the list and produce a brief (3 minute presentation) for next lesson.

More Related Content

Introduction to Human Rights

  • 1. Global Connections – Human Rights Introduction to Human Rights An introduction to Human Rights and the Human Rights Section of the Global Connections Unit
  • 2. Global Connections – Human Rights
  • 3. Global Connections – Human Rights Key Concepts Human Rights – moral principles that underlie standards of human behaviour. They are commonly understood as inalienable and fundamental rights ‘to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being’ and which are ‘inherent in all human beings’ regardless of their nation, location, language, religion, ethnic origin or any other status. They are universal in the sense of being applicable everywhere, and they are egalitarian in the sense of being the same for everyone.
  • 4. Global Connections – Human Rights
  • 5. Global Connections – Human Rights Is access to the Internet a human right?
  • 6. Global Connections – Human Rights Violations of Human Rights Can you think of any times or places when human rights have been violated?
  • 7. Global Connections – Human Rights
  • 8. Global Connections – Human Rights Universal Declaration of Human Rights • UNDR set 30 universal rights – the ware wide ranging including: • Freedom of Movement • Freedom of Speech • Education • Justice • This is important as it links to human development. • Adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1948 • 48 Voted in Favour, 8 Abstentions • It is not a treaty, it is not legally binding. • Defines ‘fundamental freedoms’ and ‘human rights’ • All 193 members of the UN are bound to recognise and respect all articles of the declaration.
  • 9. Global Connections – Human Rights Which countries abstained? • Former Yugoslavia • South Africa • USSR (and 4 satellites) • Saudi Arabia Why do you think these countries abstained?
  • 10. Global Connections – Human Rights UDHR – Used for International Leverage • Violations of UDHR have been used to justify a number of military interventions. • Promises of aid has been used a lever to persuade other countries to improve their Human Rights record.
  • 11. Global Connections – Human Rights Globalisation and Human Rights Transnational integration and increased mobility have both strengthened and diminished the protection of human rights. • On the one hand this has enhanced the ability of civil society to work across borders and promote human rights. • It has enabled organisations to gain power and perpetrate violations. Can you think of examples of how globalisation has impacted human rights?
  • 12. Global Connections – Human Rights Geography and Human Rights • Violations of human rights have occurred in many different prts of the world in both ACs, LIDCs. And EDCs. • Child Labour • People Trafficking • Genocide • Modern Slavery • Many development programmes and the steps towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals and Sustainable Development Goals are human rights led.
  • 13. Global Connections – Human Rights Key Term Human Rights Norms – represent ways of living that have been inculcated into the culture of a country or area over long periods of time.
  • 14. Global Connections – Human Rights Legal Agreements on Human Rights Geneva Convention European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) UK Human Rights Act A series of four treaties applied at times of armed conflict to protect people not taking part in the conflict (including prisoners of war). The first treaty was signed by sixteen European countries and some American states in 1864. This was followed by treaties in 1906, 1929 and 1949. The current Geneva Convention has been ratified by 196 countries, but not all have agreed to the subsequent protocols. This convention, like the UDHR, comprises of a number of articles, each setting out a specific human right. Coming into force in 1953, it has played an important part in development an awareness of human rights in Europe. It was a response to: 1. Violations of human rights that occurred during WWII. 2. Post ware spread of communism in Central and Eastern Europe. Violations of the convention come before the European Court of Human Rights. This act, passed in 1998 incorporated into UK law the rights contained in the ECHR. It manes that any breach of the convention's rights can be heard in the UK courts and need not go to the European Court of Human Rights. However, appeals related to the verdicts of UK courts in such cases can be sent to, and possibly overturned by, the European Court. This has led some to believe that the UK has lost some of its sovereignty.
  • 15. Global Connections – Human Rights The UK Human Rights Act How do these compare to the UDHR?
  • 16. Global Connections – Human Rights Homework http://www.ohchr.org/en/issues/pages/listofissues.aspx Visit the website of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human rights; look at the list of issues. Are there any that surprise you? Pick an issue from the list and produce a brief (3 minute presentation) for next lesson.