Chandigarh, (NRILG) - Originally, people had rights only
because of their membership in a group, such as a family. Then, in 539 B.C.,
Cyrus the Great, after conquering the city of Babylon, did something totally
unexpected he freed all slaves to return home. Moreover, he declared people
should choose their own religion. The Cyrus Cylinder, a clay table containing
his statements, is the first human rights
declaration in history. The idea of human rights spread quickly to India, Greece
and eventually Rome. In India - the Fundamental Rights are not Human Rights.
The most important advances in the development of Human Rights since then have included:
1215: The Magna Carta — gave people new rights and made the king subject to the law.
1628: The Petition of Right — set out the rights of the people.
1628: The Petition of Right — set out the rights of the people.
1776: The United States Declaration of Independence — proclaimed the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
1789: The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen — adocument of France, stating that all citizens are equal under the law.
1948: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights —the first document listing the 30 rights to which everyone is entitled.They are
We Are All Born Free and Equal
Don’t Discriminate
The Right to Life
No Slavery
No Torture
You Have Rights No Matter Where You Go
We’re All Equal before the Law
Your Human Rights Are Protected by Law
No Unfair Detainment
The Right to Trial
We’re Always Innocent Till Proven Guilty
The Right to Privacy
Freedom to Move
The Right to Seek a Safe Place to Live
Right to a Nationality
Marriage and Family
The Right to Your Own Things
Freedom of Thought
Freedom of Expression
HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS
Human rights advocates agree that, sixty years
after its issue, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is still more a
dream than reality. Violations exist in every part of the world. For example,
Amnesty International’s 2009 World Report and other sources show that
individuals are:
- Tortured or abused in at least 81 countries
- Face unfair trials in at least 54 countries
- Restricted in their freedom of expression in
at least 77 countries
Not
only that, but women and children in particular are marginalized in numerous
ways, the press is not free in many countries, and dissenters are silenced, too
often permanently. While some gains have been made over the course of the last
six decades, human rights violations still plague the world today.
To
help inform you of the true situation throughout the world, this section
provides examples of violations of six Articles of the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights (UDHR):-
ARTICLE
3 — THE RIGHT TO LIVE FREE
“Everyone
has the right to life, liberty and security of person.”
An
estimated 6,500 people were killed in 2007 in armed conflict in
Afghanistan—nearly half being noncombatant civilian deaths at the hands of
insurgents. Hundreds of civilians were also killed in suicide attacks by armed
groups.
In
Brazil in 2007, according to official figures, police killed at least 1,260
individuals—the highest total to date. All incidents were officially labeled
“acts of resistance” and received little or no investigation.
In
Uganda, 1,500 people die each week in the internally displaced person camps.
According to the World Health Organization, 500,000 have died in these camps.
Vietnamese
authorities forced at least 75,000 drug addicts and prostitutes into 71
overpopulated “rehab” camps, labeling the detainees at “high risk” of
contracting HIV/AIDS but providing no treatment.
What are Human Rights in India?
Though UN had declared 30 Articles as Human Rights, due to the Supremacy of the Indian Constitution, the Indian Government had enacted the Protection of Human Rights Act in 1993. According to the aforesaid act the Human Rights in India is the Rights related to the life, liberty, equality and dignity guaranteed under the Indian Constitution + 30 articles of UN enforceable in the courts of India.Human Rights can be enforced only against the matters under the Schedule 7- List II and III of the Indian Constitution. Hence, the Fundamental Rights in India are different from Human Rights.
