Human Rights Toolkit > Human Rights: Questions and Answers

T here are many questions surrounding human rights issues, and the answers are often difficult to find. In order to clarify the different issues and build upon your knowledge of human rights, we have compiled a list of questions and answers regarding the main subjects addressed in the Action Guide. We define human rights; we examine why the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights documents are valuable; and we investigate what can be done to end human rights violations. These questions, however, only address a few general issues. For information on specific human rights topics, please consult the "Human Rights Resources" section.

What are human rights?

Human rights are those rights that are necessary in order for us to live as human beings. Human rights give us dignity and equality. Human rights ensure that we all have adequate access to basic needs such as food and shelter. Human rights protect us from violence and abuse and work against ignorance and hatred. Human rights are inherent in all human beings and they should never be denied.

Human rights are universal. They transcend borders, cultures, political ideologies, and religious beliefs. No matter where you live in the world, who your parents are, or what kind of government you have, human rights are your rights.

Human rights allow us to fully develop our human abilities. They protect our right to participate in society, to work and provide for ourselves, to practice our culture and speak our language, to live in peace, and to be free from harm.

Most importantly, human rights are about respecting one another. They are about fulfilling our responsibility to ensure that no one’s human rights are violated. For example, it is your right to be free from discrimination and it is your duty to not discriminate against others. When any person is denied human rights we are all affected.

Recognizing that human rights are only as strong as our willingness to treat one another as equals is the first step in achieving "freedom, justice and peace in the world".

Why is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights important?

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a symbol of freedom, equality, and justice in the world. It was the first international agreement aimed solely at protecting and promoting human rights. Nations with diverse political, religious and cultural backgrounds joined together to make a statement against injustice and inequality. They created a standard of achievement that all nations thereafter would be morally obligated to respect.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was a ground-breaking document that paved the way for the future of international justice and human rights. Many international human rights agreements have emerged since 1948. Thousands of non-governmental human rights organizations have been established in the past 50 years. These organizations have often used the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a way to measure their governments’ human rights performance. It is an instrument used to prompt democratic reform and to demand adherence to international human rights laws.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is also important to you. It is the foundation of your freedom, your rights, and your responsibilities. Student and teacher demonstrations, non-governmental organizations, community groups and individuals have struggled to ensure that our rights as human beings are protected. We all have an obligation to do the same. Just as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights can be used to measure a government’s performance, it can also be used to measure our own performance in respecting and promoting human rights. How do you measure up? Do you treat others equally? Do you respect diversity? Are you working against human rights violations? These are important questions you must ask yourself. If the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is to continue to be a strong influence in our lives, we must act on it!

Is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights upheld universally?

Every human being should be able to read a copy of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and say, "Yes, my human rights are respected". Similarly, everyone should be able to say, "Yes, I respect the rights of others". Unfortunately, fifty years after the creation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, this is still not the case.

In order for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to meet its full purpose, every person must fulfill his/her responsibility to respect human rights. At an international level, many countries have taken steps to ensure that human rights are a priority in their states. By signing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a country commits itself to protecting the rights of its citizens and respecting the rights of all human beings. Even countries that have not signed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights are morally obligated to abide by its principles. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights has become so entrenched in international law that to disregard the importance of human rights is considered unacceptable by international standards.

Many individuals and many governments, however, still fail to uphold human rights. Despite diplomatic pressure, multilateral agreements, and national laws, human rights continue to be violated, and not just in wars or by corrupt governments in far away places. Human rights violations are occurring in homes, in schools, and in communities across Canada. In order for these violations to end and human rights to be protected, it is up to us to take action. Eleanor Roosevelt, Chair of the first United Nations Human Rights Commission, once said that human rights begin "in small places, close to home". What is your role in protecting human rights in your school? How can you help others in your community? What more can Canada do about human rights violations here and abroad? These are difficult questions but they must be addressed. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights can become a universally respected document if we work together.

What is the International Bill of Human Rights?

There are three key documents that make up the International Bill of Human Rights: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), the International Convenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966), and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966). Whereas the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a statement of principles, the two convenants are legally binding agreements. This means that if countries have signed and ratified the covenants, they agree to uphold the rights and freedoms defined by the covenants in their own states.

Although the covenants reflect principles similar to those of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, they also include additional rights. The focus of each covenant is different. They were both written at the height of the Cold War when communist and liberal-democratic countries disagreed about which rights were more important to their citizens. The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights emphasizes the rights of the worker to "just and favourable conditions" and to an "adequate standard of living". The right to food, shelter, health care, and education are included as major components.

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights addresses those rights we usually associate with democracy, such as freedom of opinion and expression, freedom of association, freedom from arbitrary arrest, and the right to vote.

The first article of both covenants is the right to self-determination. This right was not included in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The right to self-determination gives nations the freedom to establish their own governments, to create their own laws, and to practice their own culture without interference. This right forms the foundation for all other rights in each covenant. In the same way, the first article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, "all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights", is the foundation of all other rights in the declaration. Together, these three documents form the basis of human rights as we have come to know them today.

What is the United Nations doing about human rights violations?

Every day in the news we hear reports of human rights violations. It seems that as soon as one crisis subsides, another emerges. People around the world live with violence, poverty, discrimination, and injustice. So what is being done to change this?

At the international level, the United Nations is the most important actor coordinating efforts to end human rights violations. The United Nations was created after the devastation of World War II, during which millions of innocent people needlessly suffered and died. This tragedy prompted the countries of the world to take dramatic steps to prevent such horrible events from recurring.

The first action that the United Nations took in its efforts to end human rights violations was the creation of the International Bill of Human Rights. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights comprise a list of international human rights standards that states are obligated to uphold. If a state is not respecting all of the rights in the International Bill of Human Rights, it is committing human rights violations. Human rights agreements drafted by the UN are important tools for determining when states are not adhering to international principles of human rights.

The UN has also established a body to coordinate human rights related activities. The UN Centre for Human Rights monitors human rights in all regions of the world, investigates reports of serious human rights violations, organizes international conferences on human rights (e.g. the Vienna Conference on Human Rights in 1993), and encourages governments to take action on human rights.

The spirit of the United Nations, as stated in the United Nations Charter, is strongly rooted in human rights principles. The UN works for peace, for justice, and for the equal rights of all human beings. Whether conducting peacekeeping operations, establishing local development projects, promoting environmental sustainability, or providing humanitarian aid, human rights are always a fundamental part of the United Nations’ mission. With strong support from individuals like you, the United Nations can expand its role in human rights and continue to bring human rights issues to the forefront of the international agenda.

What is the 50th Anniversary about?

Action is the key word that defines the 50th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Human rights for all is the goal.

The 50th Anniversary is a year for commemorating and a year for renewing our commitment to human rights. It is a time for re-examining the state of human rights in your community, in Canada, and in the world.

Many achievements in the field of human rights have been made since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was first created. It is therefore important for us to commemorate the profound impact the Universal Declaration of Human Rights has had on our lives.

But the 50th Anniversary is about more than just remembering. It is about acting. It is about recognizing equality and fulfilling our duty to respect the rights of others. We need to keep moving forward, and make human rights a greater priority in our lives and in our communities. There is no shortage of needs to fill. The heightened energy and enthusiasm surrounding the 50th Anniversary can be used to build new initiatives and stronger partnerships. Take advantage of this momentous event and make the 50th Anniversary year of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights the beginning of a new agenda for human rights.