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Suggested Citation: Satya, B. and Satya J. (2003). Human Rights. Retreived from http://www.truefeeling.com/humanrights.htm

Human Rights
The most basic yet the most valuable rights inherent to humankind are called human rights. These entail freedom to live life in decent conditions, and access various opportunities for the betterment of our socio-cultural, economic and political beings.

We all are equal internally but the external factors shape us into different people. Each country with its unique cultural norms might view human rights distinctly. For instance, in most cases, a matriarch society will view women differently than a patriarchial society, an under- populated town would value labor more than an over-populated one, etc. Therefore in 1948, the UN created human rights that were the most primitive and universallly applicable to all. One might imagine that issues such as child labor, slave trade, torture of prisnors, etc. would be in obliterated now in the new millineum, but no, we are far from it. Unfair distribution of power, poor representation of minority groups and greedy economies has led to an expanding social, economic and political divide especially in the developing countries. This bottom-up pattern of prejudice keeps reoccuring in our societies aroung the world, of course with the poor always in pain.

It is our conscience that can lead us to a blissful coexistance...having faith (whatever it may be), and doing what's right for humanity is the only way. Mahatma Gandhi put it precisely:
"The things that will destroy us are:
politics without principle;
pleasure without conscience;
wealth without work;
knowledge without character;
business without morality;
science without humanity, and
worship without sacrifice."

Universal Human Rights as adopted and proclaimed by General Assembly Resolution 217 A (III) of 10 December 1948. These have been selected and abridged for readers' convenience:

Article 1 :
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.

Article 2 :
Entitlement to all the rights and freedoms: race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status;

No distinction on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs.

Article 3:
Right to life, liberty and security of person.

Article 4:
Prohibiton of slavery/ servitude/slave trade.

Article 5:
Prohibition of cruelty and degrading treatment or punishment.

Article 6:
Right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.

Article 7:
Equal & fair entitlement and protection from the law - without any discrimination.

Article 8:
Right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights.

Article 9:
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.

Article 10:
Equal/ fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.

Article 11:
Right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial

Article 12:
Prohibition of arbitrary interference with privacy, family, home or correspondence, and attacks upon honor and reputation.

Article 13:
Right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each State; Right to leave and return to any country, including his own.

Article 14:
Right to seek asylum from persecution in other countries unless committed non-political crimes or acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Article 15:
Right to a nationality; Prohibition of arbitrary deprivation or denial of the right to change nationality.

Article 16:
Right to marriage for men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion.

Article 17:
Right to own property alone as well as in association with others; Prohibition of arbitrary deprivation of one's property.

Article 18:
Right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion - freedom to change religion or belief, and manifest religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

Article 19:
Right to freedom of opinion and expression - freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

Article 20:
Freedom of peaceful assembly and association - no one may be compelled to belong to an association.

Article 21:
Right to take part in the government of one'scountry - equal access to public service.

The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government - this will shall be expressed in periodic and universally genuine (secret vote) elections.

Article 22:
Right to social security

Article 23:
Freedom of employment and protection against employment.

Right to equal pay for equal work.

Right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection for oneself and family.

Article 24:
Right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.

Article 25:
Right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of oneself and family

Right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control. Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.

Article 26:
Right to education - education shall be free and compulsory in the elementary stages. Technical/ professional education shall be made generally available; Higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.

Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.

Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children

Article 27:
Right to freely participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.

Right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which one is the author.

Article 28:
Entitlement to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized. Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of one's personality is possible.

Article 29:
In the exercise of one's rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society. These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Article 30:
Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.

Organizations/Programs:
Amnesty International (AI)
Human Rights Watch (HRW)
Human Rights Internet (HRI)
Human Rights Education (HRE)
United Nations (UN)

Dates:
December 10: Human Rights Day
December 15: Bill of Rights Day

Resources:
UN. Universal Human Rights. Retrieved from http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html
Bush, George W. (2001). President Proclaims Human Rights Day & Bill of Rights Week.
     Retreived from http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/12/20011209.html