HUMAN RIGHTS, DEMOCRACY AND DISCRIMINATION
Re-purposed by
Joané Botes
This presentation is re-purposed from
various presentations as part of a class
assignment in our third year
Professional Studies subject at the
University of Johannesburg.
The design and layout of this
presentation is my own work and the
content is the work of the references,
listed on the last slide.
HUMAN RIGHTS
•Human rights are rights
inherent to all human beings,
whatever our nationality, place
of residence, sex, national or
ethnic origin, colour, religion,
language, or any other status
DISCRIMINATION
• the unjust or
prejudicial treatment of
different categories of
people, especially on
the grounds of race,
age, or sex
DEMOCRACY
•Democracy is a form of
government in which the
rulers are elected by the
people.
DEFINITIONS
HUMAN RIGHTS
Human rights PROVIDE a
STANDARD for how the
Government SHOULD TREAT
its CITIZENS and they are
there to PROTECT
INDIVIDUALS.
However, because SOME
CAN be LIMITED in CERTAIN
CIRCUMSTANCES it means
people can DISAGREE about
HOW and WHEN they
should be LIMITED or
EXERCISED.
But HUMAN RIGHTS provide
a FRAMEWORK that can be
USED to DISCUSS and
DEBATE different ISSUES.
HELPING EVERYONE TO
LIVE TOGETHER
SOMETIMES your human
rights MIGHT CONFLICT
with ANOTHER person’s
human RIGHTS and may
need to be BALANCED.
When EVERYONE’S human
rights are BALANCED and
PROTECTED, it can HELP
everyone to GET ALONG
and LIVE together
HAPPILY.
HUMAN RIGHTS ARE MORE THAN
Values and behaviours
that we think other
countries don’t hold or
implement, so we often
claim they don’t value
Human Rights as well as
we do
SERVICES AND FACILITIES OF A PUBLIC
NATURE AFFECT HUMAN RIGHTS
PUBLIC DECISIONS DO:
HUMAN RIGHTS in a nutshell
• 1. Belong to everyone – they can’t be taken away from marginalised
individuals
• 2. Are about the relationship between the state and individuals
• 3. Provide a floor, not a ceiling, of basic standards, below which the state
must not fall and which it must protect or fulfil
• 4. KEY PRINCIPLES:
• Fairness
• Respect
• Equality
• Dignity
In a democratic society
Limitinghuman rights
• Sometimes our human rights need to be limited.
• They can be limited if one person is using their
rights in a way that threatens another person or
wider society.
• For example, if the police suspected that
someone was carrying a gun, would it be ok to
limit their right to respect for private and family
life by searching them?
In this instance, by limiting the suspect’s right to respect for private and
family life, the police could help to protect public safety.
Absolute rights
•Not every human right can be limited.
Some must be upheld in all circumstances!
• These are called absolute rights.
• Is it ever ok to torture someone or hurt them
badly?
• The absolute right not to be tortured or treated in a way that is
cruel or humiliating can never be limited or taken away. Cruelty
can never be allowed!
Absolute rights
• Is it ever ok to force children to work?
• The right not to be required to do
forced labour or be treated as a
slave must always be protected!
• No one can ever force you to work
or to be a slave!
FROM WHERE THE WORD DEMOCRACY IS
DERIVED
• The word democracy is derived from the Greek word
Demos- People
Kratos- Power or rule
FEATURES OF DEMOCRACY
• In a democracy the final decision making power must rest with those who elected by the people.
• A democracy must be based on a free and fair election where those currently in power have a fair
chance of losing.
• In a democracy, each adult citizen must have one vote and each vote must have
one value.
• A democratic government rules within limits sets by constitutional law and citizen’s right
• The opposition parties are allowed to function freely before and after the elections.
• The democratic governments are based on fundamental principles of political equality.
MERITS OF DEMOCRACY
• A democratic government is a better government because it is a more
accountable form of government.
• Democracy improves the quality of decision making.
• Democracy provides a method to deal with differences and conflicts. It is suitable
the countries like India. India having diversity of language, religion and cultures.
Democracy in India made it possible to keep unity in diversity.
• In a democracy no one is a permanent winner or loser.
DEMERITS OR DRAWBACKS OF
DEMOCRACY
• Leaders keep changing in a democracy.
This leads to instability.
• Democracy is all about political competition and power play. There is no
scope for morality.
• Elected leaders do not know the best interest of the people. It leads to bad
decisions.
• Democracy leads to corruption for it is based on electoral competition.
• Ordinary people don’t know what is good for them; they should not decide
anything.
Democratic Govt Non Democratic Govt
 Democracy is the best
form of government as
the rulers are
accountable to the
people and have to
fulfill their needs.
 The rulers are not
accountable to the
people and their needs.
Distinguish between Democratic and
Non Democratic government
Democratic Non Democratic
 In democratic govt
people elect their rulers
and have right in
decision making.
 The parliament is a
separate body and has
no interference of
army.
 People don not elect
their rulers and have
no right in decision
making.
 The parliament cannot
pass a law about the
army without the
consent of the chief of
army.
Comparison
Democartic Non Democratic
 Any citizen can aspire to
contest election for any
post irrespective of his or
her caste, religion, socio-
economic and
educational background
which means the right of
vote is available to all
citizens.
 The citizens of the
country have no right
to vote.
Comaparison
Democratic Non Demcratic
 Democracy is based on
consultation and in
democratic govt people
enjoy their right of
discussion.
 There are free and fair
elections. Elections offer
a choice and fair
opportunity to the people
to change the current
rulers.
 Non democratic govt is
based on dictatorship.
The ruler does what he
wishes.
 In a democratic
government elections are
either not held and if
held they are not fair
enough rather they are
imposing.
Comparison
Democratic Non Democratic
 There is a freedom of
expression and people
enjoy their
fundamental rights.
 Example- India
 There is no freedom of
expression and people
do not enjoy their
fundamental rights.
 Example- Saudi
Arabia, Zimbabwe.
Comparison
TWO TYPES OF DEMOCRACY- DIRECT &INDIRECT
DIRECT DEMOCTACY
It is a political setup, where
the people themselves
makes the laws and
parliament directly in the
functioning of the govt.
Decisions are taken on the
base of the majority of
opinion.
It is suitable for the
geographically small
countries with less
population.
Eg : Ancient Greek/ Rome
and India
Modern period- Switzerland
INDIRECT DEMOCRACY
In the modern world most
of the countries are
following the in direct
democracy.
It is system, in which the
representatives are elected
by the people and they act
on behalf of the people.
They are so sensitive to
cater the needs and
opinion of the people.
Eg ; India/ France/ USA
IN DEMOCRACY MAJORITY OF PEOPLE RULE
THROUGH THEIR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES-
WHY?
• Modern democracies involves such a large number of people that it is
physically impossible for them to sit together and take a collective decision.
• Even if they could, the citizen does not have the time, the desire or the skills
to take part in all the decisions.
AIMS OF GOOD DEMOCRACY
• True democracy will come to this country only when no one goes
hungry to bed.
• In a democracy every citizen must be able to play equal role in
decision making. For this you don’t need just an equal right to vote.
Every citizen needs to have equal information, basic education, equal
resources and a lot of commitment.
LIST OF RE-PURPOSED PRESENTATIONS
REFERENCES
• http://www.slideshare.net/ykedia007/what-is-democracy-and-why-
democracy
• http://www.slideshare.net/Knight1040/models-of-democracy
• http://www.slideshare.net/srengasamy/a-introduction-to-human-
rights-presentation
• http://www.slideshare.net/adilrahimli/human-rights-15750740
• http://www.slideshare.net/Birthmarck/basic-human-rights
• http://www.slideshare.net/sumerawarraich/theories-of-
democracy?qid=565a63df-2be2-4791-987e-
cdc7140c7ada&v=default&b=&from_search=1

Human rights and democracy

  • 1.
    HUMAN RIGHTS, DEMOCRACYAND DISCRIMINATION Re-purposed by Joané Botes
  • 2.
    This presentation isre-purposed from various presentations as part of a class assignment in our third year Professional Studies subject at the University of Johannesburg. The design and layout of this presentation is my own work and the content is the work of the references, listed on the last slide.
  • 3.
    HUMAN RIGHTS •Human rightsare rights inherent to all human beings, whatever our nationality, place of residence, sex, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, language, or any other status DISCRIMINATION • the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people, especially on the grounds of race, age, or sex DEMOCRACY •Democracy is a form of government in which the rulers are elected by the people. DEFINITIONS
  • 4.
    HUMAN RIGHTS Human rightsPROVIDE a STANDARD for how the Government SHOULD TREAT its CITIZENS and they are there to PROTECT INDIVIDUALS. However, because SOME CAN be LIMITED in CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES it means people can DISAGREE about HOW and WHEN they should be LIMITED or EXERCISED. But HUMAN RIGHTS provide a FRAMEWORK that can be USED to DISCUSS and DEBATE different ISSUES. HELPING EVERYONE TO LIVE TOGETHER SOMETIMES your human rights MIGHT CONFLICT with ANOTHER person’s human RIGHTS and may need to be BALANCED. When EVERYONE’S human rights are BALANCED and PROTECTED, it can HELP everyone to GET ALONG and LIVE together HAPPILY.
  • 5.
    HUMAN RIGHTS AREMORE THAN Values and behaviours that we think other countries don’t hold or implement, so we often claim they don’t value Human Rights as well as we do
  • 6.
    SERVICES AND FACILITIESOF A PUBLIC NATURE AFFECT HUMAN RIGHTS
  • 7.
  • 8.
    HUMAN RIGHTS ina nutshell • 1. Belong to everyone – they can’t be taken away from marginalised individuals • 2. Are about the relationship between the state and individuals • 3. Provide a floor, not a ceiling, of basic standards, below which the state must not fall and which it must protect or fulfil • 4. KEY PRINCIPLES: • Fairness • Respect • Equality • Dignity In a democratic society
  • 9.
    Limitinghuman rights • Sometimesour human rights need to be limited. • They can be limited if one person is using their rights in a way that threatens another person or wider society. • For example, if the police suspected that someone was carrying a gun, would it be ok to limit their right to respect for private and family life by searching them? In this instance, by limiting the suspect’s right to respect for private and family life, the police could help to protect public safety.
  • 10.
    Absolute rights •Not everyhuman right can be limited. Some must be upheld in all circumstances! • These are called absolute rights. • Is it ever ok to torture someone or hurt them badly? • The absolute right not to be tortured or treated in a way that is cruel or humiliating can never be limited or taken away. Cruelty can never be allowed!
  • 11.
    Absolute rights • Isit ever ok to force children to work? • The right not to be required to do forced labour or be treated as a slave must always be protected! • No one can ever force you to work or to be a slave!
  • 13.
    FROM WHERE THEWORD DEMOCRACY IS DERIVED • The word democracy is derived from the Greek word Demos- People Kratos- Power or rule
  • 14.
    FEATURES OF DEMOCRACY •In a democracy the final decision making power must rest with those who elected by the people. • A democracy must be based on a free and fair election where those currently in power have a fair chance of losing. • In a democracy, each adult citizen must have one vote and each vote must have one value. • A democratic government rules within limits sets by constitutional law and citizen’s right • The opposition parties are allowed to function freely before and after the elections. • The democratic governments are based on fundamental principles of political equality.
  • 15.
    MERITS OF DEMOCRACY •A democratic government is a better government because it is a more accountable form of government. • Democracy improves the quality of decision making. • Democracy provides a method to deal with differences and conflicts. It is suitable the countries like India. India having diversity of language, religion and cultures. Democracy in India made it possible to keep unity in diversity. • In a democracy no one is a permanent winner or loser.
  • 16.
    DEMERITS OR DRAWBACKSOF DEMOCRACY • Leaders keep changing in a democracy. This leads to instability. • Democracy is all about political competition and power play. There is no scope for morality. • Elected leaders do not know the best interest of the people. It leads to bad decisions. • Democracy leads to corruption for it is based on electoral competition. • Ordinary people don’t know what is good for them; they should not decide anything.
  • 17.
    Democratic Govt NonDemocratic Govt  Democracy is the best form of government as the rulers are accountable to the people and have to fulfill their needs.  The rulers are not accountable to the people and their needs. Distinguish between Democratic and Non Democratic government
  • 18.
    Democratic Non Democratic In democratic govt people elect their rulers and have right in decision making.  The parliament is a separate body and has no interference of army.  People don not elect their rulers and have no right in decision making.  The parliament cannot pass a law about the army without the consent of the chief of army. Comparison
  • 19.
    Democartic Non Democratic Any citizen can aspire to contest election for any post irrespective of his or her caste, religion, socio- economic and educational background which means the right of vote is available to all citizens.  The citizens of the country have no right to vote. Comaparison
  • 20.
    Democratic Non Demcratic Democracy is based on consultation and in democratic govt people enjoy their right of discussion.  There are free and fair elections. Elections offer a choice and fair opportunity to the people to change the current rulers.  Non democratic govt is based on dictatorship. The ruler does what he wishes.  In a democratic government elections are either not held and if held they are not fair enough rather they are imposing. Comparison
  • 21.
    Democratic Non Democratic There is a freedom of expression and people enjoy their fundamental rights.  Example- India  There is no freedom of expression and people do not enjoy their fundamental rights.  Example- Saudi Arabia, Zimbabwe. Comparison
  • 22.
    TWO TYPES OFDEMOCRACY- DIRECT &INDIRECT DIRECT DEMOCTACY It is a political setup, where the people themselves makes the laws and parliament directly in the functioning of the govt. Decisions are taken on the base of the majority of opinion. It is suitable for the geographically small countries with less population. Eg : Ancient Greek/ Rome and India Modern period- Switzerland INDIRECT DEMOCRACY In the modern world most of the countries are following the in direct democracy. It is system, in which the representatives are elected by the people and they act on behalf of the people. They are so sensitive to cater the needs and opinion of the people. Eg ; India/ France/ USA
  • 23.
    IN DEMOCRACY MAJORITYOF PEOPLE RULE THROUGH THEIR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES- WHY? • Modern democracies involves such a large number of people that it is physically impossible for them to sit together and take a collective decision. • Even if they could, the citizen does not have the time, the desire or the skills to take part in all the decisions.
  • 24.
    AIMS OF GOODDEMOCRACY • True democracy will come to this country only when no one goes hungry to bed. • In a democracy every citizen must be able to play equal role in decision making. For this you don’t need just an equal right to vote. Every citizen needs to have equal information, basic education, equal resources and a lot of commitment.
  • 25.
    LIST OF RE-PURPOSEDPRESENTATIONS REFERENCES • http://www.slideshare.net/ykedia007/what-is-democracy-and-why- democracy • http://www.slideshare.net/Knight1040/models-of-democracy • http://www.slideshare.net/srengasamy/a-introduction-to-human- rights-presentation • http://www.slideshare.net/adilrahimli/human-rights-15750740 • http://www.slideshare.net/Birthmarck/basic-human-rights • http://www.slideshare.net/sumerawarraich/theories-of- democracy?qid=565a63df-2be2-4791-987e- cdc7140c7ada&v=default&b=&from_search=1