Human Rights

Human rights

"All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights"
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 1)

Human rights are the cornerstone of every society. Our rights start with the basic necessities of life; water, food shelter, livelihood and expand to freedoms of expression and movement, to dignity equality and security. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was passed by the United Nations in 1948. It contains 29 articles specifying rights. Others have drawn up different lists, but the essence remains the same – the right for everyone to live full, peaceful and rewarding lives.

Rights go hand in hand with responsibilities. In a world where greed for possessions and power plays such an eminent role, the rights of the individual are frequently in danger of erosion. It is the responsibility of each of us to fight for the preservation and strengthening of our human rights. Fortunately, others have already undertaken this task. But, unless we join them, our rights can easily be lost. This often happens through a slow attrition that is barely noticed; as laws are passed that enhance the “rights” of a select few.

Today, in every country, people are suffering because their rights are not being respected. The first victims are often women and children. But when anyone loses their rights it diminishes the world for all of us. We must think about this issue, question what is happening, inform ourselves, and then take action to ensure that our lives become free.

Many of the other topics on this site are also concerned with the issue of human rights – see, for example, Children and Youth, Gender and Corporations.

Finding out about human rights

These sites will help you to gain an understanding of human rights and to find out just how endangered they are in our world.

For a general introduction, three helpful sites are the BBC’s “I have a right to…”, Derechos and Human Rights Education Associates.

Human Rights Watch is an excellent site, with news, topic pages and a lengthy set of links. Another good source for links is the Human Rights Research and Education Centre site.

Hurisearch is a search engine which searches 1,500 human rights sites.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has always been active in trying to protect of our rights. International laws, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, can be found on this page.

In Australia, you can begin with the Human Rights Council of Australia.

The Human Rights Network International provides links and a comprehensive legal documents database.

And, if you are interested in the philosophy of human rights, go the Rights Philosophy Forum.

Fighting for our human rights

There are many organisations working to protect our human rights. Here are a few examples. Check the links pages in the sites listed above to identify more of them.

The Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission offers a good overview of the Australian situation, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues. These are also considered by Reconciliation Australia.

An essential part of human rights is the access to basic day-to-day economic and social needs, such as food and housing. Two sites that focus on this area are the Center for Economic and Social Rights and the International Network for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

New Tactics in Human Rights provides ideas and strategies for activist groups.

Amnesty International is probably the best known of the human rights groups.

Two organisations that work to defend those people who put themselves on the line in fighting for human rights are Human Rights First and Front Line.

Here are a few examples of sites that focus upon specific issues – Women’s Human Rights Net, the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre and the Child Rights Information Network.