What are human rights we honour?

There is a lot of talk about the rights and wrongs about the UNHRC. Perhaps alluding to what human rights UNHRC is talking about would be a good start.

There are 30 basic human rights declared by the United Nations, in 1948. These human rights refer to moral principles, or norms, that describe certain standards of human behaviour, regularly protected as legal rights in municipal and international law. It is perhaps a good thing for our Foreign Minister to first declare what we honour as a country and what we do not. This is because the 1948 declaration may be outdated and need modernisation. Getting the basics right is important to win at the UNHRC.

The list

1. All human beings are free and equal:

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. 2. No discrimination: Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. 3. Right to life: Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person. 4. No slavery: No one shall be held in slavery or servitude. 5. No torture and inhuman treatment: No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, or punishment. 6. Same right to use law: Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law. 7. Equal before the law: All are equal before the law and are entitled, without any discrimination, to equal protection of the law. 8. Right to treated fair by court: Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution, or by law. 9. No unfair detainment: No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile. 10. Right to trial : Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal. 11. Innocent until proved guilty: Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty. 12. Right to privacy: No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. 13. Freedom to movement and residence: Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state. 14. Right to asylum : Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy, in other countries, asylum from persecution. 15. Right to nationality : Everyone has the right to a nationality. 16. Rights to marry and have family: Men and women of full age, without any limitation, due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. 17. Right to own things: Everyone has the right to own property, alone, as well as in association with others. 18. Freedom of thought and religion: Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. 19. Freedom of opinion and expression: Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression. 20. Right to assemble: Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association. 21. Right to democracy: Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country. Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country. 22. Right to social security: Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization. 23. Right to work: Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment. 24. Right to rest and holiday: Everyone has the right to rest and leisure. 25. Right of social service: Everyone has the right to a standard of living, adequate for the health and well-being of himself, and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care, and necessary social services. 26. Right to education: Everyone has the right to education. 27. Right of cultural and art: Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits. 28. Freedom around the world: Everyone is entitled to a social and international order. 29. Subject to law: Everyone has duties to the community. 30. Human rights can’t be taken away: 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.

C. Goonasekera