Human Rights (ASU111s)

Summative Assessment Task – Part 2

Name ID
Mohamed Atef Hassan 1900555
Human rights

1. What are rights?

Rights are entitlements or privileges that individuals possess by virtue of
being human. They are inherent to all human beings, regardless of factors
such as race, gender, nationality, religion, or socioeconomic status. Rights
are typically divided into different categories, such as civil and political
rights, economic and social rights, and cultural rights. Rights are often
enshrined in national constitutions, international treaties, and
declarations, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)
adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948. They serve as
a foundation for promoting dignity, equality, and justice for all
individuals.

2. What is meant by human rights?

Human rights are rights that every human being has by virtue of his or her
human dignity. Human rights are the most fundamental rights of human
beings. They define relationships between individuals and power
structures, especially the State. In the last 250 years, starting with the
French and American revolutions in the late eighteenth century, the idea
of human rights has driven many a revolutionary movement for
empowerment and for control over the wielders of power, Governments
in particular. From a legal standpoint, human rights can be defined as the
sum of individual and collective rights recognized by States in their
constitutions and in international law.

3. Give examples of human rights in the area of civil and

political rights.
• Right to life
• Freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or
punishment
• Freedom from slavery, servitude, and forced labor
• Right to liberty and security of person
• Right of detained persons to be treated with humanity
• Freedom of movement
• Right to a fair trial
• Freedom of thought, conscience, and religion
• Freedom of opinion and expression

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Human rights

• Prohibition of propaganda for war and of incitement to national,

• racial, or religious hatred
• Right to marry and found a family
• Right to take part in the conduct of public affairs, vote, be elected, and
have access to public office
• Right to equality before the law and non-discrimination

4. Give examples of human rights in the area of

economic, social and cultural rights.
• Right to work
• Right to just and favorable conditions of work
• Right to form and join trade unions
• Right to social security
• Protection of the family
• Right to an adequate standard of living, including adequate food,
• clothing, and housing
• Right to health
• Right to education

5. Give examples of human rights in the area of

economic, social and cultural rights.
• Self-determination
• Development
• Free use of their wealth and natural resources
• Peace
• A healthy environment
• Rights of national, ethnic, religious, and linguistic minorities
• Rights of indigenous peoples

6. Explain the meaning of Human Rights are universal.

Human rights are foreign to no culture and native to all nations.

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Human rights

7. What does the state obligation to protect mean?

The State “obligation to respect” means that the state is obliged to refrain
from interfering. It entails the prohibition of certain acts by Governments
that may undermine the enjoyment of rights. For Example, with regard to the
right to education, it means that the Government must respect the liberty of
parents to establish private schools and to ensure the religious and moral
education of their children in accordance with their own convictions.

8. What does the state obligation to respect mean?

The “obligation to project” requires States to protect individuals against
abuse by nonstate actors. Once again, the right to education can serve as an
example. The right of children to education must be protected by the State
from interference and indoctrination by third parties, including parents and
the family, teachers and the school, religious, sects, clans and business firms.
States enjoy a broad margin of appreciation with respect to.

9. Who gives us human rights?

Human rights are not "given" by any specific entity or authority; rather, they
are considered inherent to all individuals by virtue of being human. The
concept of human rights is rooted in the idea of inherent human dignity and
worth. While governments and international bodies can recognize and
protect human rights through laws, treaties, and declarations, they do not
create or grant these rights.
Historically, the idea of human rights has evolved over time through
philosophical, religious, and legal traditions. Various cultures and
civilizations have contributed to the development of human rights principles,
often in response to injustices and abuses.
In contemporary times, human rights are typically recognized and promoted
by governments, international organizations (such as the United Nations and
its agencies), non-governmental organizations (NGOs), advocacy groups,
and civil society movements. These entities work to uphold and protect
human rights through legal frameworks, advocacy campaigns, education,
and monitoring of human rights violations. In the last 250 years, Starting
with the French and American revolutions in the late eighteenth century, the
idea of human rights has driven many a revolutionary movement for
empowerment and for control over the wielders of power, Governments in
particular
.

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Human rights

10. Where can we find human rights?

Human rights are found in various legal and normative documents at both
national and international levels. Here are some key sources where human
rights are enshrined:
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR): Adopted by the United
Nations General Assembly in 1948, the UDHR is a foundational document
that sets out a broad range of civil, political, economic, social, and cultural
rights. It is considered a common standard of achievement for all peoples
and nations.
International Human Rights Treaties: These are legally binding agreements
that countries voluntarily commit to uphold. Examples include the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR),
the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), and the Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).
Constitutional Guarantees: Many national constitutions include provisions
that protect fundamental human rights. These rights may be derived from
international human rights instruments or indigenous legal traditions.
Examples include the Bill of Rights in the United States Constitution and the
Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Regional Human Rights Instruments: In addition to global treaties, regional
bodies such as the European Convention on Human Rights, the African
Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, and the American Convention on
Human Rights establish human rights standards and mechanisms for
enforcement within their respective regions.
Customary International Law: Certain human rights principles are
considered customary international law, meaning they are widely recognized
and accepted as binding on all states, regardless of whether they have ratified
specific treaties. Examples include the prohibition of torture and slavery.
Judicial Decisions: Human rights principles are often interpreted and
enforced by domestic and international courts through their rulings on cases
involving human rights violations. These decisions contribute to the
development and application of human rights law.

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Human rights

11. What are the Rights of the Disabled?

The rights of people with disabilities are enshrined in various international
and national legal instruments, aiming to promote their full participation and
inclusion in society. Here are some key rights of people with disabilities:
Right to Non-Discrimination: People with disabilities have the right to be
treated equally and without discrimination on the basis of their disability.
This includes equal access to education, employment, healthcare,
transportation, and other services.
Right to Accessibility: People with disabilities have the right to access the
physical environment, transportation, information, and communication on an
equal basis with others. This includes the availability of accessible buildings,
transportation, websites, and communication formats (such as sign language
interpreters or Braille).
Right to Health: People with disabilities have the right to the highest
attainable standard of health without discrimination. This includes access to
healthcare services, rehabilitation, and support services necessary to
maintain or improve their health and well-being.
Right to Education: People with disabilities have the right to inclusive and
quality education on an equal basis with others. This includes access to
mainstream schools, reasonable accommodations, and support services to
facilitate their learning and participation.
Right to Work and Employment: People with disabilities have the right to
work and employment on an equal basis with others. This includes the right
to equal opportunities in recruitment, hiring, and advancement, as well as
access to vocational training, reasonable accommodations, and a supportive
work environment.
Right to Independent Living and Inclusion: People with disabilities have the
right to live independently and be included in the community. This includes
access to support services, personal assistance, assistive devices, and
accessible housing to enable independent living and full participation in
society.
Right to Legal Capacity: People with disabilities have the right to exercise
their legal capacity on an equal basis with others. This includes the right to
make decisions about their own lives, including healthcare, finances, and
living arrangements, with appropriate support if needed.

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Human rights

12. Explain the State’s obligation to respect, to

protect and to fulfil for the following rights
• Right to life:
Respect: The police shall not intentionally take the life of a suspect to
prevent his or her escape in the event of a minor offence, such as theft.
Protection: Life-threatening attacks by an individual against other persons
(attempted homicide) shall be crimes carrying appropriate penalties under
domestic criminal law. The police shall duly investigate such crimes in
order to bring the perpetrators to justice
Fulfilment: The authorities shall take legislative and administrative
measures to reduce progressively child mortality and other types of
mortality whose underlying causes can be combated.
• Right to vote:
Respect: The authorities shall not interfere with the voting procedure and
shall respect the election results.
Protection: The authorities shall organize voting by secret ballot to
preclude threats by person in power (such as politicians, heads of clan or
family or employers).
Fulfilment: The authorities shall organize free and fair elections and
ensure that as many citizens as possible can vote.
• Right to health:
Respect: The authorities shall not restrict the right to health (inter alia
through forced sterilization or medical experimentation).
Protection: Female genital mutilation (FGM) shall be prohibited and
eradicated.
Fulfilment: An adequate number of hospitals and other public health-care
facilities shall provide services equally accessible to all.
• Right to work:
Respect: The state must respect the right to work by ensuring that laws,
policies, and practices do not unlawfully interfere with individuals' ability
to seek, obtain, and maintain employment. This includes respecting
workers' rights to freedom of association, nondiscrimination, fair wages,
and safe working conditions.
Protect: The state has a duty to protect individuals' right to work from
violations by third parties, such as employers or private entities. This
involves enacting and enforcing laws and regulations that prevent
discrimination in hiring and employment practices, prohibit forced labor
and child labor, and ensure workplace safety and fair labor standards.
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Human rights

Fulfill: The state must take proactive measures to fulfill the right to work
by creating an enabling environment that facilitates access to decent and
productive employment opportunities for all. This may include
implementing policies and programs to promote job creation, vocational
training, skills development, and entrepreneurship, particularly for
marginalized and vulnerable groups.
• Right to education:
Respect: The state must respect the right to education by ensuring that
laws, policies, and practices do not unjustly impede individuals' access to
education or discriminate against them based on factors such as gender,
disability, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status. This includes respecting
parents' rights to choose the type of education they deem appropriate for
their children, whether public or private, religious or secular.
Protect: The state has a duty to protect the right to education by
safeguarding individuals from violations by third parties, such as
discrimination or violence in educational settings. This involves enacting
and enforcing laws and policies that ensure equal access to education,
prevent school-related violence and bullying, and prohibit discrimination
against marginalized and vulnerable groups in educational institutions.
Fulfill: The state must take proactive measures to fulfill the right to
education by establishing and maintaining a comprehensive, inclusive,
and quality education system that is accessible to all, without
discrimination. This may include investing in educational infrastructure,
providing free or subsidized education, ensuring trained teachers and
adequate resources, and addressing barriers to access, such as poverty,
disability, geographic remoteness, and cultural factors.