Human Rights and Council of Europe - Rui Gomes

2. Human Rights
Education
Knowledge
Attitudes
Action
For human rights

3. Human rights…Human rights…
Entitlements we deserve to
have and ought to have
because we are human
beings.
- A minimal set of standards…

4. Human rights
 a minimum set of values and
accompanying standards
regulating, in particular, the very
unequal relationship between the
individual and the state.
 Internationally agreed
 Of universal nature
 To be guaranteed by the state

5. ”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.”
UDHR, article 1
The right to humanity

6. Which rights?...Which rights?...
 Civil rights and libertiesCivil rights and liberties
 Legal rightsLegal rights
 Political rightsPolitical rights
 Social rightsSocial rights
 Economic rightsEconomic rights
 Cultural rightsCultural rights
 Solidarity rightsSolidarity rights

7. UniversalUniversal
IndivisibleIndivisible
InterdependentInterdependent
InalienableInalienable
Déclaration deVienne, 1993
All human rights are...

8. All human rights are:All human rights are:
 HumanHuman
 HumanHuman
 HumanHuman

9. Human rights based
approach
 Human rights considerations take
the primacy over other factors
 Human rights are mainstreamed
 HR as a network of interlocking
attitudes, beliefs, behaviors,
norms and regulations

10. granted rights
and natural rights
to human rights
From...

11. Universal
Declaration
of Human
Rights
Covenant on Social
and Economic Rights
Covenant on Social
and Economic Rights
Specific conventions
and instruments
International Bill of Rights

12.  European Convention on HumanEuropean Convention on Human
Rights and Fundamental FreedomsRights and Fundamental Freedoms
 Convention on the Prevention ofConvention on the Prevention of
Torture and Degrading TreatmentTorture and Degrading Treatment
 European Social CharterEuropean Social Charter
 Framework Convention on NationalFramework Convention on National
MinoritiesMinorities
 ......

13.  Regional systems of protection of HRRegional systems of protection of HR
 Decolonisation movementsDecolonisation movements
 Effective control mechanismsEffective control mechanisms
 Conv. on Elimination of Racial DiscriminationConv. on Elimination of Racial Discrimination
 The Convention on the Rights of theThe Convention on the Rights of the ChildChild
 The CEDAWThe CEDAW
 Special Courts for Yugoslavia and RwandaSpecial Courts for Yugoslavia and Rwanda
 The International Criminal CourtThe International Criminal Court
 Rights of Persons with DisabilitiesRights of Persons with Disabilities
Very Recently...Very Recently...

14. Looking further up...Looking further up...
 Internet and human rightsInternet and human rights
 Intergenerational mattersIntergenerational matters
 Climate changeClimate change
 ...?...?
 ...?...?

15. FAQs and dilemmasFAQs and dilemmas
 Universal, special or specific rights?Universal, special or specific rights?
 Universal or absolute?Universal or absolute?
 A Western creation?A Western creation?
 Human rights and cultural practicesHuman rights and cultural practices
 Political abuse of human rightsPolitical abuse of human rights
 Rights vs ResponsibilitiesRights vs Responsibilities

16. A look ahead?...A look ahead?...
Equality Freedom
Solidarity?

17. You can cut all the flowers but
you cannot keep spring from
coming.
Pablo Neruda