Human Rights

Question 1

What is it?

Human Rights

Answer 1

Human rights guarantee the equality of all people, integrity of the person, privacy, personal freedoms and fulfilment of basic existential and social needs.

Question 2

When was it?

Answer 2

In 1948, the first international document on human rights was adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).

Question 3

Respect, Protect, and Fulfil

Answer 3

Respect our rights: that means to refrain from undue interference (eg police violence, torture, arbitrary executions or arrests).

Protect our rights: that means to take measures to prevent abuse of our rights by others (eg against domestic violence, against environmental pollution by big companies).

Fulfill our rights: that means to create the legal and institutional framework so our rights can be guaranteed (eg build schools and hospitals, adopt laws prohibiting crimes against life and property).

Question 4

Regional human rights systems

America(s)

Answer 4

Inter American Commission and Court of Human Rights (OAS)

Question 5

Regional human rights systems

Europe

Answer 5

European Court of Human Rights (ECHR)

Question 6

Regional human rights systems

Africa

Answer 6

The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights

Question 7

Article 1

Answer 7

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.

Obligation to respect Human Rights

Answer 8

I think that all human rights have to be seen as a whole. If one right is not guaranteed, a multitude of other rights might be affected as well. For example, if the right to housing is violated and a person must sleep in the streets, their right to health, to recreation and ultimately to work are also at stake.

Question 9

Absolute Rights

Answer 9

The prohibition of torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; the prohibition of slavery; the right to be recognized as a person before the law; and the freedom of conscience and to change one’s religion.

These rights are at the very core of human dignity. Every interference with these rights is under all circumstances prohibited, as this would undermine the dignity of the person.

There are only a handful of rights that are absolute