Slideshow adapted from “First Steps – a Manual for starting Human Rights Education” originally produced by Human Rights Education Associates “First Steps – a Manual for starting Human Rights Education“First Steps – a Manual for starting Human Rights Education

  Human rights are the basic standards without which people cannot life in dignity as human beings.  Respect for human rights is necessary for individuals and communities to fully develop. What are Human Rights?

  The basis of human rights - such as respect for human life and human dignity - can be found in most world religions and philosophies. Where did Human Rights come from?

  Sets of human rights have been made into laws since the invention of writing.  Key milestones on historic path of record human rights: Where did Human Rights come from? The Cyrus Cylinder 539 BCE – Cyrus the Great, ruler of the Persian Empire, has a set of rights recorded on the Cyrus Cylinder 622 CE – Muhammad drafts the Constitution of Medina 1215 CE – King John of England and some Barons sign the Magna Carta, establishing the right of habeus corpus and rights of due process 1776 CE – United States Declaration of Independence 1789 CE – French Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen 1781 CE – United States Constitution and Bill of Rights 1948 CE – Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the 56 member nations of the United Nations

  Human rights are inherent, universal, inalienable, and indivisible. Characteristics of Human Rights

  Human rights do not have to be bought, earned or inherited, they belong to people simply because they are human - human rights are 'inherent' to each individual.  Human rights are the same for all human beings regardless of race, sex, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin. We are all born free and equal in dignity and rights - human rights are 'universal'. Characteristics of Human Rights

  Human rights cannot be taken away, no one has the right to deprive another person of them for any reason.  People still have human rights even when the laws of their countries do not recognize them, or when they violate them - human rights are 'inalienable'.  For example: when slavery is practiced, the people who are enslaved still have humans rights even though these rights are being violated Characteristics of Human Rights

  For people to live in dignity, they must have all of their human rights respected, they cannot be split up. People must have their rights to freedom, security and decent standards of living at the same time - human rights are 'indivisible'. Characteristics of Human Rights

  Most widely accepted statement of human rights in the world is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).  Adopted on December 10, 1948 by the United Nations  List of basic rights for everyone in the world whatever their race, color, sex, language, religion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.  Governments have promised to uphold certain rights, not only for their own citizens, but also for people in other countries  Since 1948 the UDHR has been the international standard for human rights. Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)

 Five categories of Human Rights  Civil – the right to be treated as an equal to anyone else in society  Political – the right to vote, to freedom of speech and to obtain information  Economic – the right to participate in an economy that benefits all; and to desirable work  Social – the right to education, health care, food, clothing, shelter and social security  Cultural – the right to freedom of religion, and to speak the language, and to practice the culture of one’s choice

 SOME CIVIL RIGHTS  Life  Belief in own religion  Opinion  Free speech  Non-discrimination according to sex  Marry

 SOME POLITICAL RIGHTS  Vote in elections  Freely form or join political parties  Live in an independent country  Run for public office  Freely disagree with views and policies of political leaders

 SOME ECONOMIC RIGHTS  Work without exploitation  Fair wage  Safe working conditions  Form trade unions  Have adequate food and water

 SOME SOCIAL RIGHTS  Housing  Education  Health services  Clean environment  Social security

 SOME CULTURAL RIGHTS  Use own language  Develop cultural activities  Access ancestral domains  Develop own kind of schooling