Human Rights

Human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, regardless of race, sex, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, or any other status. Human rights include the right to life and liberty, freedom from slavery and torture, freedom of opinion and expression, the right to work and education, and many more. Everyone is entitled to these rights, without discrimination. How were these rights established and how can we protect them?

Accessibility icon Human Rights

Why were human rights introduced?

After the Second World War, there was a need for international cooperation to make sure that there was peace between different countries.

The UN – The United Nations

The United Nations (UN) was founded on 24 October 1948. The main goal of the UN is to strengthen international relationships and to make sure all the people in the world have the same basic rights.

⬅ The United Nations Headquarters in New York.

FNs hovedkvarter i New York med medlemsflaggene vaiende utenfor
FNs hovedkvarter i New York med medlemsflaggene vaiende utenfor

In a postwar world

The Jews, the Roma, homosexuals and other minorities experienced harassment during World War II. After the war, many people realised that there was a need for international rights that protects all people. This is what we call human rights.

⬅ The Star of David is a religious symbol used in Jewish synagogues. During the Second World War, the Jewish people of Germany were forced to wear a yellow Star of David showcasing their faith.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

On the 10th of December 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was approved. It includes 30 articles.

Article 1 of the Universal Declaration:

“All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”
(UN Association, 2020)

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Different types of human rights

Today, we all have rights, no matter our gender, age, ethnicity, faith and political views. 

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights shaped our basic rights. Human rights have been strengthened and developed further through different formal agreements between countries called conventions.

There are nine conventions, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Refugee Convention.

A very important convention to uphold democracy is the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. This secures freedom of speech, freedom of choice and democratic ruling. Democracy has come a long way in the world, but some nations are still challenging these basic rights.

⬅ The right to demonstrate, or express one’s own thoughts and opinions, is one of our most basic civil and political rights as human beings.

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A short film about Human Rights and Sustainable Development

Human Rights Violations

You will find breach of human rights in many countries, also in Norway. The degree of the breaches varies in seriousness.

Not long ago, Poland changed several laws. Some of these laws are a breach of human rights. Reports from Amnesty International show that Poland is running a homo-transphobic campaign. Poland denies people from the LGBTQ community the freedom of speech by limiting their right of opinion and expression.

The Polish government has also put in place other changes that weaken the rule of law. This violates the principle of separation of powers which is essential in a democracy. 

The European Union (EU) has tried to stop these human rights breaches in Poland, but the government has not listened.

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Black Lives Matter

George Floyd was a 46 year old man who was killed by the police on May 25, 2020, in Minneapolis, USA. He was an African-American man. He was killed because he tried to use a fake twenty-dollar bill in a store. There were a lot of demonstrations and protests around the world against police violence against Black people.

Black people are often suspected of being criminals even if they have not committed any serious crime. This is a violation of human rights. Black people in the US run a greater risk of being shot and killed by the police. Out of 1,000 people killed by the police in the US in 2019, 23 percent were black, even if African Americans only make up 14 percent of the population.

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Violation of human rights in Norway

Norway is a leading country when it comes to defending human rights.

But Norway has been criticized for pre-trial prison. This is when people are put in prison while the crime is being investigated. This means that people can go to prison before there is evidence that they are guilty. This only happens when it is a very serious crime such as murder has happened.

What you can do

Even if you are a student, you can support human rights in different ways.

You can join an organization, a political party, or speak out in the media or on social media. 

Everyone is a champion of democracy and human rights.

The Sakharov Prize

The video below is from the Sakharov Prize in 2013. This is a yearly prize awarded by the EU to an organisation or individual who has shown great work for human rights.

Sources:

  • Knudsen, Olav Fagelund; Julsrud, Ottar; Tvedt, Knut Are; Trondal, Jarle:
    EU – Den europeiske union  i  Store norske leksikon  på snl.no.
    Hentet     19. august 2020  fra https://snl.no/EU_-_Den_europeiske_union 

Media Rights:

    1. Getty Images
    2. Getty Images
    3. Getty Images
    4. Getty Images
    5. FN-sambandet Norge – Youtube
    6. Getty Images
    7. Getty Images
    8. Getty Images
    9. Getty Images
    10. European Parliament – Youtube