Chapter 4 Introduction to Human Rights.docx

URCC-5110 Citizenship Education and Community
Engagement
CHAPTER 4
Introduction to Human Rights
What Are Human Rights?
Human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, regardless of race, sex, nationality,
ethnicity, language, religion, or any other status. Human rights include the right to life and
liberty, freedom from slavery and torture, freedom of opinion and expression, the right to work
and education, and many more. Everyone is entitled to these rights, without discrimination.
International Human Rights Law
International human rights law lays down the obligations of Governments to act in certain ways
or to refrain from certain acts, in order to promote and protect human rights and fundamental
freedoms of individuals or groups. One of the great achievements of the United Nations is the
creation of a comprehensive body of human rights law—a universal and internationally protected
code to which all nations can subscribe and all people aspire. The United Nations has defined a
broad range of internationally accepted rights, including civil, cultural, economic, political and
social rights. It has also established mechanisms to promote and protect these rights and to assist
states in carrying out their responsibilities.
The foundations of this body of law are the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the General Assembly in 1945 and 1948,
respectively. Since then, the United Nations has gradually expanded human rights law to
encompass specific standards for women, children, persons with disabilities, minorities and other
vulnerable groups, who now possess rights that protect them from discrimination that had long
been common in many societies.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a milestone document in the history of
human rights. Drafted by representatives with different legal and cultural backgrounds from all
regions of the world, the Declaration was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly
in Paris on 10 December 1948 by General Assembly resolution 217 A (III) as a common
standard of achievements for all peoples and all nations. It sets out, for the first time,
fundamental human rights to be universally protected. Since its adoption in 1948, the UDHR has
been translated into more than 500 languages - the most translated document in the world - and
has inspired the constitutions of many newly independent States and many new democracies.
International Bill of Human Rights.

Economic, social and cultural rights
The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights entered into force in 1976.
The human rights that the Covenant seeks to promote and protect include:
 the right to work in just and favorable conditions;
 the right to social protection, to an adequate standard of living and to the highest
attainable standards of physical and mental well-being;
 the right to education and the enjoyment of benefits of cultural freedom and scientific
progress.
Civil and political rights
The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and its First Optional Protocol entered
into force in 1976. The Second Optional Protocol was adopted in 1989.
The Covenant deals with such rights as freedom of movement; equality before the law; the right
to a fair trial and presumption of innocence; freedom of thought, conscience and religion;
freedom of opinion and expression; peaceful assembly; freedom of association; participation in
public affairs and elections; and protection of minority rights. It prohibits arbitrary deprivation of
life; torture, cruel or degrading treatment or punishment; slavery and forced labour; arbitrary
arrest or detention; arbitrary interference with privacy; war propaganda; discrimination; and
advocacy of racial or religious hatred.
Human Rights Conventions
A series of international human rights treaties and other instruments adopted since 1945 have
expanded the body of international human rights law. They include the Convention on the
Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (1948), the International Convention on
the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (1965), the Convention on the Elimination
of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (1979), the Convention on the Rights of the
Child (1989) and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006), among
others.
Universalism vs relativism
Universalism asserts the existence of absolute, universally applicable truths or values, while
relativism emphasizes the contextual and subjective nature of values and ethics.
Example of universalism: Universalism is also applied in international law. For example, the
United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) asserts various rights to all
people – e.g., to marry, own property, and access equal protection under the law – regardless of
culture or nationality.
Example of Relativism: An example of relativism would be attitudes, beliefs, and practices
concerning marriage. Throughout different stages in history and from culture to culture, moral
correctness for marriage is relative to the time and place

Constitutionalism and citizens’ responsibilities
Constitutionalism
The basic law of a state which sets out how that state will be organized, the powers and
authorities of government between different political units, and by stating and the basic
principles of the society.
• In Black Law Dictionary, “The fundamental and organic law of a nation or state that
establishes the institution and system of government, defines the scope of governmental
sovereign powers, and guarantees individual civil rights and civil liberties.”
• Tomas Paine remark that, “Government without a Constitution is a power without a right.”
Duties of Citizens
Duties are mandatory Obey laws Rule of Law – A government of laws –Officials must base
their decisions on the law, not on personal opinion Defending the Nation.
Paying Taxes –Through taxes the local, state, and national governments raise money to pay for
the services that citizens ask them to provide Attending School –If citizens are to continue to
govern ourselves, uphold our values, and protect our rights, each of us must be educated about
our history, our government, and the workings of our society.
Responsibilities of Citizens: Responsibilities are voluntary The Common Good –The basic
responsibility of every citizen is to contribute to the common good – well being of all members
of society –All the other responsibilities of citizenship are part of contributing to the common
good
Voting –One of the basic rights of citizens –To make good decisions and vote wisely, citizens
have the responsibility to inform themselves. –When preparing to vote try to separate facts from
opinions, and try to base your decisions on reasons and not on personal likes and dislikes
holding Government Office –People who hold government office have accepted the
responsibility of learning about the issues and trying to make decisions that are in the best
interest of the people they represent
Influencing Government –Citizens of any age can influence the government by expressing their
opinions in letters to elected representatives and to newspapers, and by speaking at city council
and school board meetings Serving the Community –Each of us is responsible for doing
whatever we can to make our communities better places to live in.
Some of our duties and responsibilities as a sensible citizen:

 Defend the country if the need should arise
 Participate in your local community.
 Respect and obey federal, state, and local laws.
 Respect the rights, beliefs, and opinions of others.
 Save Water and Electricity.
 Promote Pakistan in a Positive way.
Public Duties and Responsibilities
Today we are living in such a time, where our country is facing new challenges every other day.
In such a scenario, every person should realize the responsibilities of a good citizen of Pakistan.
It will not only help us to overcome the difficult situation our country is passing through but will
also give us an inner satisfaction. The satisfaction of fulfilling our duties towards our country.
Let’s focus on the ten prime responsibilities which are just absolutely necessary.
Follow the law and fulfil the responsibilities of a good citizen of Pakistan
We can’t fulfill the responsibilities of a good citizen of Pakistan unless we surrender to the law
of our country. Discussing the responsibilities is nearly impossible if we skip this point. For this
reason we placed it at the very first place. Following the law is necessary for the order in our
country and that’s what we collectively call law and order. Every country has defined certain
rules to administer the different departments of it. Law is the basic framework on which the
functioning of whole of the country is dependent. To avoid any situation of chaos we need to
comply with the laws and be dutiful towards them.
Take into account the rights of our fellow citizens
We, the citizens of Pakistan, are a nation. To be like one, we need to give due regard to the rights
of everyone. It is our responsibility to be mindful of the rights of other citizens. And then expect
the same. A good citizen takes good care about his actions which do not harm the rights of any
other. Let’s look into it with the aid of a simple common life example. One will not play loud

music at night when he knows his fellow neighbor could be taking rest and his action can harm
his right of enjoying his property. In law we call all these as easement rights.
Pay taxes on time and meet the responsibilities of a good citizen of Pakistan
This act of paying taxes properly and on time shows how true you are to your country. Tax
money plays a very pivotal role in the development and success of a country. Almost all the
welfare works are done using this money. And the whole society benefits from it. As a true and
loyal citizen, it is our responsibility to pay our taxes and play our part in helping the country to
get a grip on any uncertain situations arising time to time.
Defend the country in any time of need
We should always be geared up to serve our country. As a good citizen, it is our responsibility to
come forward to its rescue in times of necessity. In case of any emergency, when our country
needs us, we should not step back. Rather this is the high time to prove our loyalty and repay a
part of the gifts our country gave us. The gifts of freedom, privileges, and liberties.
Protect and save the resources of our country
The resources of a country are synonymous with the wealth of a person. Like a person is
concerned about his monetary assets, he should also try to protect the assets of the country. We
should try to save the resources to help our country in meeting the demands of the growing
population. It is very necessary for the country to sustain. In short save water, electricity, and
gas.
Promote the country in a positive way and be true to the responsibilities of a good citizen of
Pakistan

The digital world we are living in has a different dynamics. In this age, one way to serve our
country and carrying out the responsibilities of a good citizen of Pakistan, is to promote the
goodness in our country. Let the world see the good and positive side of Pakistan. It will help our
county in many different ways. One, the most apparent, is promoting tourism and in effect
increasing the revenue of our country.
Take part in good and constructive works
As a good citizen, we should try to do our best in the beneficial works. They could be any
ranging from educating a child to setting up a public water cooler. The good work can be of any
magnitude. If every citizen will play his role in such works, it will benefit the country as a whole
and improve its footings.
Do not forget the national values of the country
National values are very crucial as they are the legacy of a country. We as citizens, should not
forget and set aside the national values. This brings about the unity of the country. Respecting
the cultural traditions can be a part of the many responsibilities of a good citizen of Pakistan.
Keep the surrounding environment clean and honor the responsibilities of a good citizen of
Pakistan
Cleanliness is more than important. The true lovers of this country will never ignore the
preservation of the beauty of this country. Good citizens should leave no stone unturned to make
this country a beautiful place to live.
Be nice to everyone and avoid any mischief

The last but not the least duty is to be good and nice to everyone. A good citizen will always
behave like a decent person and avoid any mischief which can harm the peace of the country.
Nothing is more important for a good citizen than the calmness of the surrounding.
Human rights in constitution of Pakistan
Human Rights in Pakistan:
human beings are born free, but they face a multitude of challenges that eventually rob them of their
freedom and turn them into slaves. A variety of national and international initiatives have been made
to provide and preserve fundamental human rights. Women are seen as essential members of any
society. Women's equal involvement is critical to putting our country on the path to success.
Following domestic violence, honor killing is another issue that must be addressed promptly.
Right to Health
Covid-19 caused a massive public health disaster over the world, with Pakistan being no exception.
Health care institutions suffered a serious scarcity of PPE during the start of the COVID-19 epidemic.
Doctors were photographed treating suspected COVID-19 patients while wearing plastic bags rather
than face masks, safety suits, and gloves.
Right to Education in Pakistan:
Pakistan Constitution, education was only recently designated a basic, justiciable, and enforceable
right. The Islamic Republic of Pakistan's 1973 Constitution merely stated in article 37-b that the state
must "eliminate illiteracy and offer free and obligatory secondary education within the shortest
possible time." The Right to Free and Compulsory Education reaffirms the constitutional right of all
children aged five to sixteen years to free and compulsory education.
25A. Right to education: The State shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of the
age of five to sixteen years in such manner as may be determined by law.
Women Rights:
Women rights are human rights." These words have become a rallying cry for millions of women and
men throughout the world who are actively working to secure women's rights. Marriages involve the
trading, sale, and purchase of women. They are given little opportunity to make decisions for
themselves in order to improve their lives' circumstances. Women from the upper and middle classes,

on the other hand, have more access to education and work possibilities and may have greater
influence over their life.
The Women Protection Bill:
The women protection bill enacted by Pakistan's National Assembly on November 15, 2006, is an
effort to alter the severely criticized Hudood Ordinance rules of 1979, which control the penalties for
rape and adultery in Pakistan. From 2012 to 2017, the Punjab government introduced and executed a
number of key initiatives to combat violence against women and to promote women's economic and
social empowerment.
Freedom of religion:
Freedom of religion is the freedom to change and select one's faith is guaranteed by international law
in all situations, and people's fundamental rights cannot be violated. MuhammedAli Jinnah,
Pakistan’s founding father, attempted to chart a pathway for the country that avoided religious
divides. Despite the fact that Pakistan was formed as a Muslim nation, Jinnah felt Islam could serve
as a uniting factor and that Pakistanis had a responsibility to respect the ideals of religious freedom
and to respect the rights of religious minorities.
All Individual are Equal:
equally entitled to freedom of conscience and the right to freely profess, practice, and spread religion
subject to public order, morality, and health," according to Article 25. Furthermore, Article 26 states
that all faiths are free to conduct their own religious affairs. Article 20 of the Pakistani Constitution
provides religious freedom... The government is obligated to protect the basic rights of all citizens
without discrimination based on religion, creed, or belief.
In short, The Constitution of Pakistan provides for fundamental rights which include freedom of
speech, freedom of thought, freedom of information, freedom of religion, freedom of
association, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly

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