Aspects of Human Rights
Meaning of Human Rights
Define human rights
Human rights are basic things that all human-beings are entitled to and which nobody should interfere with. Such rights include life, ownership of property, education, marriage, health care and housing. Others are equality before the law, security, freedom of association, privacy and freedom of worship.
In most countries, human rights are based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. They are also included in the constitution of countries as the Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights shows the rights and freedoms that citizens have in their country. Freedom is the right to do or say what one wants without being stopped by any one.
Various Aspects of Human Rights
Explain the various aspects of human rights
The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Aspects of human rights are defined in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This declaration was adopted and proclaimed by the General Assembly of the United Nations on the 10th of December 1948. It has thirty points, known as articles. These points can be summarized into three categories as follows;
- Civil and political rights.These are rights to life, liberty, recognition, fair and public hearing by an independent tribunal, and freedom of movement, freedom of thought, freedom of assembly and freedom of expression.
- Economic, social and cultural rights. These are rights to social security, work, equal pay, education, rest, leisure and cultural life.
- Environmental and developmental rights. These are rights people have to live in an environment that is clean and free ofpollution. People also have a right to wealth and natural resources, self-determination and peace.
Right to equality
The constitution of Tanzania presents the right to equality in two parts as follows:
- Equality to all human beings- The Constitution states that all human beings are born free and are equal. It also states that every person has the right to cognition and respect.
- Equality before the law- In this part, the Constitution provides people with the right to be treated fairly before the law and to be protected without any kind of discrimination or favor.
Right to life
The constitution represents these rights in four parts as explained below:
- Right to live- The Constitution states that every person has the right to live and have his or her life respected by society according to the law.
- Right to personal freedom- According to the Constitution, everyone has the right to live as a free person, without being restricted by anyone else.
- Right to privacy and personal security- According to the constitution, every person has the right to be respected and to live and communicate without public attention.
- Right to freedom of movement- Every citizen of Tanzania has the right to move in Tanzania and live in any part of Tanzania. A Tanzanian citizen also has the right to leave and enter the country.
Freedom of expression
Freedom of expression is presented in four parts as follows:
- Freedom of expression- Every citizen has the right to form opinions and to air those opinions. He or she is free to communicate without interference.
- Freedom of religion- Every person has the right to belief of faith, freedom of thought and choice in matters of religion.
- Freedom of association- Every citizen is free to assemble, associate and communicate with other people. A Tanzanian citizen has the right to express views and join lawful associations or organizations.
- Freedom to participate in public affairs- The Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to take part in leadership matters - that is the right to elect or be elected into public office. Every Tanzanian citizen has the right to participate fully in making decisions on matters affecting him or her, his or her well-being or the nation.
Activity 1
Visit one of the meetings in your area and observe how people express themselves. Do they express themselves freely?
Right to work
The right to work is presented in three parts. These are:
- Right to work- Every citizen has the right to work, equal opportunity to work and to hold any office.
- Right to own property- The constitution gives all citizens the right to own property and have that property protected.
- Right to fair remuneration- Every citizen who works has the right to a fair salary according to his or her work. All the rights and freedom guaranteed in the Constitution have their limitations. Every citizen who enjoys these rights and freedom must obey the laws of the country. In exercising his or her rights, a citizen should also take into consideration the rights of others.
The Importance of Human Rights in Our Society
Explain the importance of human rights in our society
Most democratic societies have constitutions that contain a Bill of rights. The Bill of rights consists of a list of rights and freedoms that are guaranteed in the constitution. These rights can be divided into three categories.
Civil and political right
These rights give citizens liberty and equality. They also allow citizens to participate in political mattersin their communities or societies.
- The right to life – This right states that everyone has a right to live. It also disallows the death penalty for people below 18 years, pregnant women and insane people.
- The right to equal protection by the low – This right seeks to ensure that laws and law enforcing authorities treat all people equally.
- Freedom of expression – This right helps ensure that people are free to exchange ideas and opinions.
- Freedom of religious and conscience – This right ensures that no-one is punished or penalized in any way because he/she chooses one religion over another or opts for no religion at all.
- Freedom of association – This right that ensures people are free to belong to any organization of their choice. It gives individuals the right to meet and interact with others with whom they have common interests.
Social and economic rights
These rights give people the opportunity to participate in the social, economic and culturalactivitiesof their community or society. They are also concerned with the provision of basic needs such as food, shelter, health care and education. Social and economic rights are divided into the following two categories:
- Social rights – These include freedom from discrimination on grounds of race, gender or religion, the right to marry and have a family and the right to privacy, education, recreation and health care.
- Economic rights – They include the right to work, housing, reasonable standard of living and housing.
Environmental and developmental rights
Rights under this category seek to do the following:
- Guarantee people's right to live in a free and safe environment that is clean and free from pollution and protected from destruction.
- Give people the right to have their culture recognized, or to advance themselves politically and economically.
Human Rights and the Provision of Basic Needs
Relate human rights to the provision of basic needs
Basic needs are things thatare essential for survival. They include food, shelter and clothing. Human rights are related to the provision of basic needs. Social and economic rights give people the opportunity to participate in social, economic and cultural activities that help them meet their basic needs. These activities include agriculture, business, manufacturing, employment and education. Human rights also enable people to work together as members of society in order to improve their living conditions.
The Role of Government and Different Pressure Groups in the Promotion of Human Rights in Tanzania
Evaluate the role of Government and different pressure groups in the promotion of human rights in Tanzania
Promotion of human rights is done to encourage people to respect and value human rights. This is done in the following ways:
The government promotes human rights by recognizing and including them in the constitution.
The government accepts and respects international obligations on human rights. Tanzania is signatory to various international agreements on human rights.
The government has set up acommission on human rightsand good governance. This commission is given power to promote and protect human rights.
The constitution of Tanzania allows for a multiparty system on government in which people are free to join any political party of their choice. This promotes Democracy and therefore the freedom of expression.
The courts of law have final say on legal matters.
The government has allowed Non- Governmental organizations (NGOs) to operate in the country. These help promote human rights. The following are some of those organizations:
- Tanzania Gender Networking Program (TGNP).
- Tanzania Women Lawyers Association (TAWLA).
- Tanzania Media Women Associations (TAMWA).
- Tanzania Human Right and Democratic Development Centre (TAHUDE).
Activity 2
Visit one of the Non-Governmental Organization and find out how they promote human rights.
Protection of human rights
Protection of human right means ensuring that human right are not abused. Human rights should be protected and respected for the following reasons:
- They help to regulate and control the power and actions of the government.
- They are the foundations of justice, peace and freedom.
- They promote democracy. This means the citizens’ wishes are respected by the government.
- They encourage people’s participation in economic, social, political and culture activities.
- They bring about social equality and discourage any form of discrimination.
The following are ways in which human rights are protected in Tanzania:
- The Tanzania constitution includes a Bill of Rights to protect human rights.
- The government educates the public about their civil rights which are guaranteed in the constitution. It also practices the rule of law by setting up a system of checks and balance (such as law courts and police force) to ensure that human rights are respected.
- Non-Governmental organizations educate the public and put the pressure on the government to change oppressive laws.
- The press informs the public about violations of human rights.
Limitations of Individual Human Rights
Human rights have limitations because there is no absolute freedom as all freedom iswithin certain boundaries. In a democratic society, such limitations should be reasonable, non-discriminatory and justifiable. The main reason for setting boundaries within which human rights are exercised is to protect the interests of other people.
The Meaning and Purpose of Limitations of Individual Human Rights
Explain the meaning and purpose of limitations of individual human rights
Everyone is free to enjoy his/her rights but in so doing one should not interfere with the rights of others. For example, freedom of speech does not mean a person is allowed to insult others. Other examples of limitations while exercising one's rights include:
- Freedom of expression – If a person uses abusive language he/she can be arrested. An individual's right to freedom of speech does not mean one is allowed to insult other people.
- Freedom of assembly – This can be limited if an assembly is likely to harm other people
- Freedom of Association – People who have bad intentions, such as criminals, cannot be allowed to associate with the public as their actions are likely to harm others.
- Right to personal freedom – Just because one has the right to personal freedom does not mean he/she can do things that offend others, such as walking naked.
Activity 3
Discuss with your fellow students if it’s necessary to limit individual human rights.
Human Rights Abuse
Abuse of human right is the unlawful prevention of a person`s enjoyment of his or her right as outlined in the constitution.
The Meaning and Effects of Human Rights Abuse
To be able to explain the meaning and effects of human rights abuse
Parents can abuse the rights of their children by:
- Denying them education
- Not providing basic needs, such as food and clothing for their children
- Forcing their children to marry against their wishes, especially at a tender age
- Giving their children severe punishment
Society can abuse an individual’s right through:
- Beating and killing suspected criminals without giving them a fair trial in a court of law.
- Abandoning children in the streets
- Stigmatizing less fortunate members of the society, such the disabled and people living with HIV/AIDS.
The government can abuse human rights through:
- Making oppressive laws that limit anindividual’s rights
- Discriminating against citizens due to their race, gender, religion or ethnic group.
- Not including a bill of rights in the constitution.
- Not maintaining the rule of law.
Effects of human right abuse
The following are some effects of abusing human rights in the society:
- Conflicts among family members and in the community. This leads to unrest and instability in the society due to the increase of crimes.
- Conflicts between citizens and their government. This makes it difficult for the government to enforce law and order.
- Citizens beingunable to perform their duties and responsibilities in peace.
- Increased crime and poverty in the society
- Oppression of less fortunate members in society. For example, workers may be underpaid or the poor may be denied justice in the court of law.
- Citizens beingunable to obtain their basic needs when the right to work is denied or abused.
Differences between limitations and abuse of human rights
The differences between limitations of human rights and the abuse of human rights are listed in the table below.
| Limitations | Abuse |
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Ways to combat abuse of human rights
- The government has to maintain the rule of law where the rule of law is not maintained.
- The government should educate its citizens about their basic rights so that they can claim them when they are denied.
- The society has to respect all people, including the sick and disadvantaged.
- The court of law should enforce the law in a just manner and punish those who abuse the rights of others, such as thieves and murderers.
- There should be a system tocontrol the activities of the government, e.g. the existence of a particular law to prevent the abuseof power.
- The government shouldbe transparent in its operations. Citizens should be kept informed about issues affecting them.
- All people should be treated fairly and equally before the law. No one should be discriminated against because of their race, religion, gender or status in the society.
Exercise 1
Write ‘T’ for true statements and ‘F’ for false statements
- Human rights are the entitlements that every person has.
- Aspects of human rights have been defined in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania.
- Every person has the right to live and be respected by the society.
- The constitution of United Republic of Tanzania does not give all citizens the right to own property.
- Civil and political rights do not allow citizens to participate in the political mattersof their community.
Exercise 2
Write the importance of each of the following human rights and freedom.
- Right to life
- Right to equal protection by the law
- Freedom of expression
- Environmental and developmental rights
- Social and economic rights
Exercise 3
Answer the following questions.
- What is the purpose of putting limitations on individual human rights?
- Statethree ways in which the government, parents and societies can abuse human rights.
- State three ways in whichtheabuse of human rights can be combated.
