Unit 4 Citizenship

Unit 4 Citizenship

Universal Human Rights (for five human rights cases see separate sheets)

Universal Rights

Human rights are those rights that belong to every individual simply because they are human beings. They embody the basic standards without which people cannot realise their inherent human dignity. They are universal, no one has to earn or deserve human rights. They are inalienable as you cannot lose these rights anymore than you can cease to be a human being. They are indivisible as you cannot be denied a right because someone decides that it is less important or non-essential. Human rights are also interdependent as they are part of a complementary framework. They are also practical and abstract, as they hold up an inspiring vision of a free, justice and peaceful world and set minimum standards for how both individuals and institutions should treat people. They also empower people to take action to demand and defend their rights and the rights of others.

Different countries hold different perceptions on how the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is implemented. For instance in Cameroon you are unable to partake in homosexual relations without being prosecuted. In North Korea many people are living off of bark from trees and grass, whereas in the UK prisoners are unable to take part in the electoral system.

• Cultural Relativism – idea that an individual’s beliefs should be understood in terms of their own culture

• Universalism – idea that there are beliefs / institutions etc. that are common to all cultures worldwide

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a declaration adopted by the United Nations General Assembly. The declaration arose directly from the experience of the Second World War and represents the first global expression of rights to which have all human beings are inherently entitles. It consists of 30 Articles (SEEN ON EXTRA SHEETS) which have been elaborated in subsequent international treaties, regional...