Table of Contents
Human rights are rights we have simply because we exist as human beings – they are not granted by any state. These universal rights are inherent to us all, regardless of nationality, sex, national or ethnic origin, color, religion, language, or any other status. They range from the most fundamental – the right to life – to those that make life worth living, such as the rights to food, education, work, health, and liberty.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1948, was the first legal document to set out the fundamental human rights to be universally protected. The UDHR, which turns 75 on 10 December 2023, continues to be the foundation of all international human rights law. Its 30 articles provide the principles and building blocks of current and future human rights conventions, treaties and other legal instruments.
The UDHR, together with the 2 covenants – the International Covenant for Civil and Political Rights, and the International Covenant for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights – make up the International Bill of Rights.
Human Rights – Definition, Importance, List
Human rights are standards that recognize and protect the dignity of all human beings. Human rights govern how individual human beings live in society and with each other, as well as their relationship with the State and the obligations that the State have towards them.
Historical development
1: Who was the first woman President of India?
Since World War II, the United Nations’ foundation in 1945, and the UN General Assembly’s 1948 ratification of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the term “human rights” has only recently become widely used. It took the role of the term “natural rights,” which became obsolete in the 19th century due in part to the growing controversy around the idea of natural law, to which it was closely related, as a result of the advent of legal positivism. The idea that a law must be moral in order to be valid was long supported by the Roman Catholic Church, but legal positivism rejected it. The subsequent phrase “the rights of Man,” which was not always believed to encompass the rights of women, was also superseded by the word “human rights.”
Why Are Human Rights Important?
Human rights have garnered more attention and awareness in recent decades. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, published by the United Nations in 1948, is now regarded as the foundational text for fundamental equality and human dignity. Why are human rights important? These are 10 particular reasons why:
Human rights ensure people have basic needs met
All people require access to clothing, shelter, food, and water, as well as medication. Because these are part of everyone’s fundamental human rights, everyone is treated with some degree of dignity. Even while millions of people still lack these essentials, by framing the issue as one of human rights, activists and others may strive to ensure that everyone has access to them.
Human rights protect vulnerable groups from abuse
The tragedies of World War II and the Holocaust had a major influence on the creation of the Declaration of Human Rights. The weakest members of society, such as the LGBT community and those with disabilities, were targeted during the same period in history as the Jewish population. Human rights organizations do not ignore the segments of society that are most susceptible to exploitation by those in positions of power. Rather, they concentrate on them.
Human rights allow people to stand up to societal corruption
People can come out against abuse and corruption because to the notion of human rights. Because no society is flawless, this is why certain rights, like the freedom to gather, are so important. People are empowered by the idea of human rights and are informed that everyone, including the government and their workplace, should treat them with dignity. They are able to get up if they don’t get it.
Human rights encourage freedom of speech and expression
Being allowed to talk freely without fear of violent retaliation is more expansive even if it is identical to what you just read above. It includes opinions and modes of expression that not everyone will find acceptable or agreeable, but no one should ever fear that their government will take action against them because of their beliefs. It protects those who wish to dispute or disagree with certain ideas put forward in their community and works both ways.
Human rights give people the freedom to practice their religion (or not practice any)
Throughout history, there have been numerous instances of religious brutality and tyranny, including the Crusades, the Holocaust, and contemporary acts of terrorism. Human rights allow people to pursue their religion and spirituality in peace and recognize its significance. Another human right is the ability to choose not to practice any religion.
Human rights allows people to love who they choose
It is impossible to overstate the value of being free to love. The ability to design one’s romantic life is a fundamental human right. When you consider nations where women are coerced into unwelcome marriages or where LGBT individuals face persecution and cruelty, it is evident what happens when this right is not upheld.
Human rights encourage equal work opportunities
The ability to work and support oneself enables individuals to thrive in their communities. People find themselves subjected to mistreatment or inadequate opportunity if the workplace is not acknowledged as having the potential to be prejudiced or outright repressive. The idea of human rights promotes equality and offers guidelines for treating employees.
Human rights give people access to education
Education is vital in communities where poverty is prevalent for a multitude of reasons. To break the cycle of poverty, human rights-focused organizations and governments give access to education, supplies, and other necessities. If education is viewed as a right, then everyone, not just the wealthy, can obtain it.
Human rights protect the environment
The consequences of climate change on humans are strengthening the union of environmentalism and human rights. It seems natural that human beings be impacted by environmental changes as we are land-dependent and inhabitants of our planet. As vital as the other rights on this list are the rights to clean water, clean air, and clean soil.
Human rights provide a universal standard that holds governments accountable
The UDHR was created with two goals in mind: first, to establish a framework for future developments; and second, to make the world recognize that widespread violations of human rights had occurred during World War II. A human rights norm would allow governments to be held responsible for their deeds. Because identifying an injustice and citing a precedent has force, the UDHR and other human rights texts are extremely significant.
List of 20 Basic Human Rights:
Here is the full list of 20 human rights according to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) by the United Nations, signed in Paris on 10 December 1948:
1. All human beings are free and equal
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
2. No discrimination
Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms, without distinction of any kind, such as race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinions, national or social origin, property, birth, or another status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional, or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs.
3. Right to life
Everyone has the right to life, liberty, and security of person.
4. No slavery
No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.
5. No torture and inhuman treatment
No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
6. Same right to use law
Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.
7. Equal before the law
All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation and against any incitement to such discrimination.
8. Right to be treated fair by the court
Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.
9. No unfair detainment
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention, or exile.
10. Right to trial
Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.
11. Innocent until proved guilty
Everyone charged with a penal offense has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to the law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defense. No one shall be held guilty of any penal offense on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offense, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed.
12. Right to privacy
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honor and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.
13. Freedom to movement and residence
Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state. Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.
14. Right to asylum
Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution. This right may not be invoked in the case of prosecutions genuinely arising from non-political crimes or from acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.
15. Right to nationality
Everyone has the right to a nationality. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality
16. Right to democracy
Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives. Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country.
17. Right to own things
Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.
18. Freedom of thought and religion
Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.
19. Freedom of opinion and expression
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
20. Right to assemble
Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association. No one may be compelled to belong to an association.
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Start Learning!Human Rights Quiz PDF
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Human Rights Quiz
- The National Human Rights Commission is a ……
(a) Statutory body
(b) Constitutional body
(c) Multilateral institution
(d) Both a and c
Answer d
- Which of the following is a core principle of human rights law?
- a) Universality
- b) Particularity
- c) Exclusivity
- d) Relativity
Answer: a) Universality
- Which of the following is not a fundamental human right according to international law?
- a) Right to education
- b) Right to privacy
- c) Right to leisure
- d) Right to discrimination
Answer: d) Right to discrimination
- Who can be appointed as the chairman of the National Human Rights Commission?
(a) Any sitting judge of the Supreme Court
(b) Any retired Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
(c) Any person appointed by the President
(d) Retired Chief Justice of any High Court
Answer b
- Which of the following is not the function of the National Human Rights Commission?
(a) To interfere in the proceedings related to any human rights violation case pending in the court
(b) Protecting the human rights of prisoners
(c) To provide Economic compensation to any human rights violation victim
(d) Promoting research in the field of human rights
Answer c
Q6. Which day is celebrated as world human rights day ?
(a) February 27
(b) December 10
(c) August 25
(d) March 1
Answer b
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Start Learning!Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What are human rights?
Ans: Human rights are moral entitlements that every individual in the world possesses simply in virtue of the fact that he or she is a human being. In claiming our human rights, we are making a moral claim, normally on our own government, that you cannot do that, because it is a violation of my moral sphere and my personal dignity. No-one – no individual, no government – can ever take away our human rights.
Q2. How are human rights defined in the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 ?
Ans: In terms of Section 2 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 (hereafter referred to as ‘the Act’), “human rights” means the rights relating to life, liberty, equality and dignity of the individual guaranteed under the Constitution or embodied in the International Covenants and enforceable by courts in India. “International Covenants” means the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on the 16th December, 1966 .
