This document provides an introduction to key concepts related to human rights. It defines human rights as moral principles that underlie standards of human behavior and are inherent to all people. It discusses examples of human rights violations throughout history. It also summarizes several important international agreements related to human rights, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Geneva Convention, the European Convention on Human Rights, and the UK Human Rights Act. For homework, students are asked to explore the website of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and present on a human rights issue.

1. Global Connections – Human Rights
Introduction to Human Rights
An introduction to Human Rights and the Human Rights Section of the
Global Connections Unit

2. Global Connections – Human Rights

3. Global Connections – Human Rights
Key Concepts
Human Rights – moral principles that underlie standards of human
behaviour. They are commonly understood as inalienable and
fundamental rights ‘to which a person is inherently entitled simply
because she or he is a human being’ and which are ‘inherent in all
human beings’ regardless of their nation, location, language, religion,
ethnic origin or any other status. They are universal in the sense of
being applicable everywhere, and they are egalitarian in the sense of
being the same for everyone.

4. Global Connections – Human Rights

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Is access to the
Internet a
human right?

6. Global Connections – Human Rights
Violations of Human Rights
Can you think of any times or places when human rights have been
violated?

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8. Global Connections – Human Rights
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
• UNDR set 30 universal rights – the ware wide ranging including:
• Freedom of Movement
• Freedom of Speech
• Education
• Justice
• This is important as it links to human development.
• Adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1948
• 48 Voted in Favour, 8 Abstentions
• It is not a treaty, it is not legally binding.
• Defines ‘fundamental freedoms’ and ‘human rights’
• All 193 members of the UN are bound to recognise and respect all articles
of the declaration.

9. Global Connections – Human Rights
Which countries abstained?
• Former Yugoslavia
• South Africa
• USSR (and 4 satellites)
• Saudi Arabia
Why do you think
these countries
abstained?

10. Global Connections – Human Rights
UDHR – Used for International Leverage
• Violations of UDHR have been used to
justify a number of military interventions.
• Promises of aid has been used a lever to
persuade other countries to improve their
Human Rights record.

11. Global Connections – Human Rights
Globalisation and Human Rights
Transnational integration and increased mobility have both strengthened
and diminished the protection of human rights.
• On the one hand this has enhanced the ability of civil society to work
across borders and promote human rights.
• It has enabled organisations to gain power and perpetrate violations.
Can you think of examples
of how globalisation has
impacted human rights?

12. Global Connections – Human Rights
Geography and Human Rights
• Violations of human rights have occurred in many different prts of the
world in both ACs, LIDCs. And EDCs.
• Child Labour
• People Trafficking
• Genocide
• Modern Slavery
• Many development programmes and the steps towards achieving the
Millennium Development Goals and Sustainable Development Goals
are human rights led.

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Key Term
Human Rights Norms – represent ways of living that have been
inculcated into the culture of a country or area over long periods of
time.

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Legal Agreements on Human Rights
Geneva Convention European Convention on Human
Rights (ECHR)
UK Human Rights Act
A series of four treaties applied at times
of armed conflict to protect people not
taking part in the conflict (including
prisoners of war). The first treaty was
signed by sixteen European countries
and some American states in 1864. This
was followed by treaties in 1906, 1929
and 1949. The current Geneva
Convention has been ratified by 196
countries, but not all have agreed to
the subsequent protocols.
This convention, like the UDHR,
comprises of a number of articles, each
setting out a specific human right.
Coming into force in 1953, it has played
an important part in development an
awareness of human rights in Europe. It
was a response to:
1. Violations of human rights that
occurred during WWII.
2. Post ware spread of communism in
Central and Eastern Europe.
Violations of the convention come
before the European Court of Human
Rights.
This act, passed in 1998 incorporated
into UK law the rights contained in the
ECHR. It manes that any breach of the
convention's rights can be heard in the
UK courts and need not go to the
European Court of Human Rights.
However, appeals related to the
verdicts of UK courts in such cases can
be sent to, and possibly overturned by,
the European Court. This has led some
to believe that the UK has lost some of
its sovereignty.

15. Global Connections – Human Rights
The UK Human Rights Act
How do these
compare to the
UDHR?

16. Global Connections – Human Rights
Homework
http://www.ohchr.org/en/issues/pages/listofissues.aspx
Visit the website of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human rights; look at
the list of issues. Are there any that surprise you?
Pick an issue from the list and produce a brief (3 minute presentation) for next
lesson.