Topic 1 – What are human rights? They are rights you have just because you are human.

Human rights are a set of fundamental principles and moral guidelines that protect and promote the dignity, equality, and freedom of every individual, regardless of nationality, race, religion, gender, or other factors. These rights are based on the belief that every person has inherent worth and should be treated fairly and with respect.

Human rights are internationally recognised and enshrined in various legal documents, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948. Human rights encompass a wide range of aspects, including:

Civil and political rights: These rights protect individuals’ freedoms and participation in the political process. They include the right to life, liberty, and security of a person; freedom from torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment; freedom of thought, conscience, and religion; freedom of expression; and the right to a fair trial.

Economic, social, and cultural rights: These rights address issues related to an individual’s well-being and access to essential services, such as the right to work, education, health, and an adequate standard of living.

Collective rights: These rights protect the interests of specific groups, such as indigenous peoples or minority groups, ensuring their culture, language, and traditions are respected and preserved.

Human rights are universal, inalienable, and indivisible, meaning they apply to everyone, cannot be taken away, and are all interconnected. Governments and international organisations are responsible for upholding and promoting these rights, while individuals and civil society groups play a crucial role in raising awareness and advocating for their protection.

Human -an individual of the genus homo sapiens

Rights – those things that are morally or socially just; fair treatment

Fair – right or just; honest; equal treatment; also transparency in administration

The website at peacefulplanet.org has tools and tips for all words which appear with a blue line underneath. If you hover your mouse pointer over any of these words, you will see the meaning and working definition of that word.

NOTES:

Please refer to the Glossary definitions for further understanding. The easy-reading text we have used for individual human rights is from the website of the University of Minnesota’s human rights education section. The original text of the Universal Declaration is provided as Topic 13.

The images for the rights are from the UN’s website of 2018, celebrating 70 years of the Declaration.

The short titles for the rights are from the BBC.