INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN RIGHTS
January 20, 2015 at 1:47am
Introduction to Human Rights
Five Levels of the Hierarchy of Needs
Physiological Needs
These include the most basic needs that are vital to survival, such as the need for water, air, food,
and sleep. Maslow believed that these needs are the most basic and instinctive needs in the
hierarchy because all needs become secondary until these physiological needs are met.
Security Needs
These include needs for safety and security. Security needs are important for survival, but they are
not as demanding as the physiological needs. Examples of security needs include a desire for
steady employment, health insurance, safe neighborhoods, and shelter from the environment.
Social Needs
These include needs for belonging, love, and affection. Maslow considered these needs to be less
basic than physiological and security needs. Relationships such as friendships, romantic
attachments, and families help fulfill this need for companionship and acceptance, as does
involvement in social, community, or religious groups.
Esteem Needs
After the first three needs have been satisfied, esteem needs becomes increasingly important.
These include the need for things that reflect on self-esteem, personal worth, social recognition, and
accomplishment.
Self-actualizing Needs
This is the highest level of Maslows hierarchy of needs. Self-actualizing people are self-aware,
concerned with personal growth, less concerned with the opinions of others, and interested fulfilling
their potential.
When the war ended in 1945, the victorious nations decide how to prevent such from
happening again.
Formation of the United Nations to advance Human Rights and peace
In 1948 the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted
In 1948 only 58 countries belonged to the United nations
Today there are already 192 member nations and many laws exist to protect human rights
United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Primary architect of the Universal Declaration of Human Right, Eleonor Roosevelt
Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places, close to home so close and so
small that they cannot be seen on any maps of the world. Such are the places where every man,
woman, and child seeks equal justices, equal opportunity, equal dignity without discrimination.
Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning everywhere. Without concerted
citizen action to uphold them close to home, we shall look in vain for progress in the larger world.
DEFINITION
HUMAN RIGHTS are the rights that all people have by virtue of being human beings.
DEFINITION
Purpose of Human Rights
Every person is entitled to certain rights simply by the fact that they are a HUMAN BEING.
They are rights because they are allowed to be, to do or to have.
These rights are there for your protection against people who might want to harm or hurt you.
They are also there to help us get along with each other and live in peace.
A set of guarantees for humans not only to exist but also to live with the necessary conditions which
befits a rational being.
Inherent entitlement or birthrights which every person should possess and enjoy by virtue of
having been born a human being; HR provide the bases or foundation of a life of dignity.
These are protective devices designed to shield or protect individuals from random violence
and neglect;
These are entitlements or legal claims that individual by virtue of being humans have
against the state
Natural in that every one owns them not because they are subject to any particular system of
law or religious or political administration
Normative standards / guideposts upon which states are to conduct themselves when
relating with their citizens; deal with the relationship between the State and the people
Legal entitlements or claim which everyone by virtue of being human have against the State.
These constitute a contract between the people and the State, giving a social character of
HR
Duties and Obligations
2 major parties involved in the realization and fulfillment of human rights
1. Rights Holders citizens/ordinary individuals
2. Duty Bearers State & everyone which form part of the State
Executive LGUs, various departments & line agencies
Legislature Senate & House Representative
Judiciary courts, jails prisons, law enforcement agencies like the PNP
Military all branches of the AFP
The state has the primary obligation to RESPECT, PROMOTE , ENSURE/ FULFILL and PROTECT
HUMAN RIGHT so People can ENJOY these entitlements.
Principles of Human Rights
1. Human rights are inherent
They are innate, natural, inborn in every person
They are not granted by any authority
2. Human Rights are Universal
They equally belong to everyone human being every where
regardless of sex, race, religion, Class, Social origin
3. Human Rights are Inalienable
They cannot be transferred,
They can not be separated
They can not be taken away,
They can not be surrendered, regardless of who or what person does.
4. Human right are Indivisible All human rights civil, political, economic, social and cultural are
co-equal and all-important. They can not be divided. They are entitlements to the totality of a person
as human being, and thus cannot be divided.
5. Human rights are Interrelated and Interdependent
HR is mutually dependent and exist in reciprocal relationship. The enjoyment or fulfillment of one
right is often dependent of the other right. When one right is violated, then the other right is violated
as well.
6. Human rights are imprescriptible
They do not have time limit, and have no expiration
7. Human-Responsibility matches Accountability
For every rights there is a corresponding responsibility on the part of every and obligation on the part
of the state
Five categories of Human Rights
Civil the right to be treated as an equal to anyone else in society
Political the right to vote, to freedom of speech and to obtain information
Economic the right to participate in an economy that benefits all; and to desirable work
Social the right to education, health care, food, clothing, shelter and social security
Cultural the right to freedom of religion, and to speak the language, and to practice the
culture of ones choice
SOME CIVIL RIGHTS
Life
Belief in own religion
Opinion
Free speech
Non-discrimination according to sex
Marry
Race
Cultural background
SOME POLITICAL RIGHTS
Vote in elections
Freely form or join political parties
Live in an independent country
Stand for public office
Freely disagree with views and policies of political leaders
SOME ECONOMIC RIGHTS
Jobs
Work without exploitation
Fair wage
Safe working conditions
Form trade unions
Have adequate food
Protection against labor malpractices
SOME SOCIAL RIGHTS
Housing
Education
Health services
Recreation facilities
Clean environment
Social security
SOME CULTURAL RIGHTS
Use own language
Develop cultural activities
Ancestral domains
Develop own kind of schooling
Classifications of rights
1. 1.
Natural Rights inherent upon every person
2. 2.
Constitution provided by the constitution and can only be abolished by the
constitution
3. 3.
Statutory granted by law through Congress
Natural Rights
Constitutional Bills of Rights
Rights are codified in the nations constitution.
This gives rights the status of superior law
They are, therefore, incapable of amendment by legislatures
Only the judiciary has any ability to amend a constitutional bill of rights by interpretation
This is the highest level of rights protection because the Bill of Rights cannot be altered by
the executive
This results in the supremacy of the judiciary as the guardians of rights
Statutory Bills of Rights
Rights are codified in statute law
This gives rights the status of ordinary law
They are, therefore, capable of amendment by legislatures
They are also capable of interpretation by the judiciary as is any other statute
This offers a more flexible but less guaranteed approach allowing the legislature (possibly
dominated be the executive) to amend the Bill of Rights
This still places the judiciary in a powerful position due to its ability to interpret rights
Statutory
Power of Eminent Domain
DEFINITION OF 'EMINENT DOMAIN'
The power the government has to obtain the property of an individual even without the person's full
consent. In most countries, including the U.S., the land owner will be compensated for the land at fair
market value. This power allows the government to seize land to be used in public enterprises such
as roads, schools, or utilities installations. Eminent domain is generally found in some form in most
common law nations.
