Understanding Human Rights: Principles and Actions

Human Rights: Basic Requirements

Universal

These are basic requirements for anyone who wants to be recognized as such. These requirements state that every person deserves the highest respect and consideration. Therefore, you should recognize all human beings without exception. Every human being must be treated as such, as someone who has the same dignity as others. Universality is the requirement. Please refresh, although echoed in many places, they are not recognized yet.

Preferential

That is, if they conflict with other rights, they have priority and must be protected as a priority. For example, the right to life and health are more important than other secondary rights.

Imprescriptible

That is, they do not expire or prescribe. If they have no urgency at all times and for all, it does not mean having no limits because you have to set limits around to enjoy other rights.

Inalienable

That is, these rights are not assignable or transferable to others. You cannot alienate, for example, the right to vote is mine, and I cannot assign it to another person. So, we all have the same basic rights.

Indivisible, Interdependent, and Non-Negotiable

All Human Rights are equally important. Both depend on each other and are complementary. For example, if a government wants to abolish civil liberties and trade unions to promote economic growth, the dignity of the person is being attacked.

Civil and Political Rights: Compliance

The abolition of enslavement has been a major achievement in the history of rights but fails to eradicate violations of human rights such as wars, torture, illegal detentions, discrimination, and ill-treatment of prisoners, women, etc.

The Efforts of the UN

The UN works for the respect for human rights by denouncing and taking effective action against violations of human rights. Its performance includes international pressure on governments to undertake necessary reforms to respect civil and political rights.

Citizen Initiatives

Citizens can act for human rights in three ways:

1. Disseminating them: Making them known to other people.
2. Demanding compliance: Requiring public authorities to comply through letters, demonstrations, etc.
3. Integrating into organizations: Joining organizations and associations that fight for the human rights of those in need or who do not know them.