WHAT ARE HUMAN RIGHTS?

In this presentation, you will learn;

That human rights play a part in everyday life

That every human being is entitled to certain basic rights

That basic human rights in Britain are set out in the Human Rights Act (1998), and that these rights are different from other rights

Human Rights

Consider the sort of rights you, as a child, would like.

Some of you probably want the right to drive a car, buy alcohol and wear what you like to school.

Others may want the right to work full time from the age of 14 or to stay out late at night.

There is nothing wrong with wanting these things but, of course, there are reasons why you don’t have them as rights.

Discuss why you think you cannot simply have the rights you want.

What Are Your Rights?

The European Convention on the Rights of a Child is shown below.

1. Children are entitled to a name and nationality.2. Children should be provided with the benefits of social care, including

adequate housing, recreation and medical services.3. Children who are physically or mentally handicapped should be

provided with extra care as appropriate.4. Children should not be discriminated against because of age, colour,

religion, language or anything else.5. Children should be given adequate opportunities and facilities to

develop emotionally, spiritually, morally and physically.6. In all situations, children should be the first to receive protection and

care.7. Children should be protected against cruelty, neglect and exploitation.8. Children should be protected from any practices which may encourage

discrimination.9. Children are entitled to a free education.10. Children are entitled to love and understanding.

Do you think all children receive these rights?

Do They Work For Everyone?

Now that you have seen the Rights of Children, do you think they are appropriate to all people?

In other words, are there some people who might need more human rights?

Imagine an adult at work who is being told to work more hours than they feel they should be. Are they protected in the rights you have seen so far?

The answer is that they are not.

In those rights, only children are protected.

How do you think adults are protected?

Human Rights

In 1988, the British Government drew up a list of Human Rights (Human Rights Act) for all British people. All humans being have;

the right to life freedom from torture and degraded treatment freedom from slavery and forced labour the right to liberty the right to a fair trial the right not to be punished for something that wasn't a crime when you did it the right to respect for private and family life freedom of thought, conscience and religion freedom of expression freedom of assembly and association the right to marry or form a civil partnership and start a family the right not to be discriminated against in respect of these rights and freedoms the right to own property the right to an education the right to participate in free elections

Are These Rights Appropriate? – A Task

Take a closer look at each of the Human Rights listed on the previous page. They all seem like perfectly sensible rights to give to people.

The question is. . . .

Are they all possible?

Try to give an example for each one where it might not be appropriate for a person to have that right.

One has been done for you.

The right to freedom of expressionIf somebody wants to say something racist, they shouldn’t be allowed to use this right.

Are These Rights Appropriate? – A Task

Have a look at some other examples.

The right to respect for private and family life.Do famous people have the right to protection from the paparazzi?

The right to participate in free elections.Should a mass murderer be allowed to vote and decide who runs the country?

The right to life.Should people on death row be spared their sentence so they can have their right to life?

Who Controls Our Human Rights?

So far, we have understood why we are entitled to human rights. We also know that we don’t always receive every single human right we are entitled to.

Why do you think this is?

In democratic countries (such as the UK), it is the job of the elected Government to make decisions to protect their citizens. Sometimes, to protect the majority of citizens, it is necessary to limit peoples human rights.

For example

The Race Relations Act makes it illegal to make racial comments or print racist literature. This prevents peoples freedom of expression, but it is in the best interests of everybody to do so.

Tasks

Over the next few slides, you will read some case studies about people who have lost some of their human rights.

Your task is to work out which human rights they have lost.

The answers will be provided at the end.

Remember – it is as important to be able to explain your answer as it is to get it right.

Case Study 1

John is a 15 year old boy who lives in England. He was abandoned by his mother as a baby before being named. As he grew up, he was moved around different foster homes and, as a result, has never attended school. He is now homeless after running away from his last foster home.

(Use the children’s rights to help you answer this)

Children should be provided with the benefits of social care, including adequate housing, recreation and medical services. It is likely that he has missed out on adequate social care and medical services due to being moved from home to home.

Children should be given adequate opportunities and facilities to develop emotionally, spiritually, morally and physically. John’s development in all areas will have been hindered by his upbringing.

You will have found more rights that he has lost. These are here to start you off.

Case Study 2

Jane is a 45 year old singer in a band. She is very famous throughoutthe UK and is often followed around by newspaper photographers who want a picture of her. She recently slapped a photographer andwas sent to prison for 6 weeks. During that time, she was unable tovote in the General Election.

(Use the 1988 Human Rights Act to help you answer this)

The right to respect for private and family life. Photographers who take pictures of Jane without her permission are surely infringing on her right to privacy.

The right to participate in free elections. Whilst in prison, Jane was unable to vote. This meant she lost her right to vote in free elections.

You will have found more rights that she has lost. These are here to start you off.

Case Study 3

Hans is a 33 year old man from Eastern Europe. He was forced to leave his home due to a civil war that was going on. He and his family fled their torture and came to the UK. Hans is in the UK legally but is unable to find a school for his children to be educated. He is also finding it difficult to get a job and cannot afford to buy a house for his family.

(Use the 1988 Human Rights Act to help you answer this)

Freedom from torture and degraded treatment. Whilst Hans may receive this in the UK, he was subjected to torture in his home country by being put at risk in the war.

The right to an education. His children have lost this right as they have been unable to find a school to attend.

You will have found more rights that he has lost. These are here to start you off.

What Have We Learnt?

Children have rights which they are entitled to

All human beings in the UK have rights as a result of the 1988 Human Rights Act

Sometimes we lose our rights when the Government pass laws to protect us

On other occasions, people lose rights simply as a result of being unlucky