Dr. D. Y. Patil Unitech Society’s Dr.

D. Y. Patil Arts, Commerce, & Science

College, Pimpri, Pune-411018.
B. Voc. Retail Management
BASIC CONCEPTS OF
HUMAN RIGHTS &
DUTIES
 INDEX

● Significance of Value
● Human Values
● Dignity
● Liberty
● Equality
● Justice
● Ethics & Morals
● Unity in Diversity
● Meaning and Significance of Human Rights Education
● Objectives of Human Rights Education
 SIGNIFICANCE OF VALUE

● Value in general is a part of philosophy. Philosophy is one of the basic subjects which
deals with the basic problems of mankind. It deals with issues such as existence,
knowledge, values, reasons, mind, and language.
● Based on the parameters of value, a number of other aspects developed to regulate the
behavioral patterns of man. These values such as dignity, liberty, equality justice, ethics,
morals etc. have had their significant impact to shape the human relations in a society.
● These philosophical concepts have a profound impact on law. The main aim and function
of Law in any society is to regulate the relations between men and to alleviate the
intensity of conflicts to promote peace, security, good and orderly behaviour of mankind
to establish a conflict free society.
● This in turn will help to analyse each issue and lay norms to develop a rational human
mind to achieve maximum results in their inter-relationships with each other.
 HUMAN VALUES

Values vary from person to person, depending on their experiences and circumstances in which
they grow. There are certain basic values which are common to all. They are life, liberty,
security, freedom and success, security to life, kindness, pain and pleasure. Depending on the
circumstances, which each person grow up considers which value is important to him. But
adhering to values which are common to all, in the long-run develops a society to establish
peace for all the sections of a society. This will help learn to live with unity in diversity. Values
motivate people to achieve their goals. Values transcend time and territory and develop
relationships and regulate the behavioral patterns of individuals.
 10 Basic values, which motivate and regulate the
behavior of human beings in achieving their goals

1. Self-destruction; promotes an independent thought which results in a judicious decision

making process in creating or exploring the goal.
2. Stimulation creates excitement, novelty and challenges in life.
3. Hedonism brings in pleasure and sensuous gratification for oneself.
4. Achievement demonstrates competence of individuals according to standards of society.
5. Power brings in social status and prestige, control over people, and resources.
6. Security guides the society to establish a compatible environment for people to lead a life
with pleasure and groom their freedoms.
7. Conformity to social standards regulates the behaviour of individuals, and prevents wrong-
doings by individuals to themselves and towards one another in the society.
8. Tradition promotes qualities of respect to the practices that are inherent in society.
9. Religion promotes innovation of knowledge and values to the achievement of peace and
security.
10. Benevolence establishes belief and enhances the qualities of welfare to promote the
interests of the individuals with whom each one interacts in their day to day activities.
 DIGNITY

● Dignity is another value that regulates the behaviour of individuals. It prescribes the
norms & ethical standards that need to be followed & adopted.
● Individuals are expected to behave with one another in a dignified & honest manner.
Exercising due caution & care in our relations without undermining the capacities of
others. It teaches us not to create a situation wherein others are made to undergo either
emotional, psychological, physical, tense situations, or to harm their personality.
● Since dignity plays a vital role in regulating the human relations & for the furtherance of
human rights, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, in no uncertain terms declared
that all individuals are equal in the eye of law. All deserve to be treated with utmost
respect without harming the dignity of others at all times.
● If people across the world follow the ethical norm of dignity without any deviance, the
realisation of right would be easy.
● The non-adherence to ethical values, especially, indecent behaviour of individuals at
times, posing a number of problems in the contemporary era. Thus, has an effect in the
promotion & realisation of human rights.
 LIBERTY

● Liberty is another concept which plays a vital role in the promotion of human rights.
● Liberty means, human beings are free to regulate their relations, and are able to govern
their relations, behave at their own will, and be responsible for their acts.
● If the acts are bad or performed with an intention to defray anybody or deprive them of their
legal claims, they not only affect the rights of others, but also of their own in the long run.
● According to Hobbes, every individual is empowered to enjoy their freedom freely without
the interference of any other person.
● The enlightenment of liberty by various political and legal philosophers, led to a number of
political revolutions across the world. This in turn led to establish democratic societies on
the basis of liberty of individuals to choose their leaders.
● In the contemporary era, the excessive arguments for liberty, and its indiscriminate
exercise without strict adherence to duty by individuals in their numerous acts, again
resulted in bringing miseries to the world.
● In order to resolve the problems and to provide a problem-free world, the UN took a number
of legal steps for the promotion of human rights.
 EQUALITY

● Equality is another important component of human rights.

● equality proposes to bring all the people into one category, and apply the principles of
law, and justice without any distinction, whatsoever it may be among the individuals.
● The aim of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Constitutions of the
various countries including India are to treat all the people on an equal without any kind
of discrimination.
● Although, all people are numerically considered as equal in the eyes of law, in providing
the amenities or distribution of resources, all may not be considered or treated as equal
in reality.
● This is because of the socio-economic, political and cultural conditions that prevail in
each society.
● In order to uplift the people who are not equal on any ground specified above, they need
to be given certain concessions and facilities to improve their status and to reach the
equal status with that of others who are on a higher pedestal, this is called Equity
 JUSTICE

● Justice in simple terms may be defined as righteousness, fair and to be treated on

equitable grounds.
● Justice is an important concept which has attracted a number of fields especially, law and
philosophy.
● To fill the gap between unequals and equals, from ancient to modern times, a number of
scholars have advocated various theories to achieve the concept of justice.
● To achieve perfect justice, it lays its emphasis on concepts of equality, morality and
ethics.
● According to Plato, Justice being the highest value, and to attain it, an individual has to be
provided with all the necessary conditions to realise the right, and to discharge his duties
towards society.
 ETHICS AND MORALS

● Ethics and Morals are considered as equal concepts. However, there exists a subtle
difference between these two.
● Morals deal with the personal character of an individual.
● On the other hand, the concept of Justice, Equality and the participation of individuals in
the socio-cultural aspects of the community are ethical aspects.
● Accordingly, every human being in a society is responsible at all times to strive to achieve
human rights as a moral or ethical subject of society.
● Value is the central issue of ethics. Ethics is a normative science of human conduct in
society, which differentiates between right and wrong, good or bad, proper or improper.
● Goodness is the highest of value. Goodness is objective, universal and rational.
● Some basic values are: courage, tolerance, benevolence, kindness and friendship. Values
are instrumental or absolute, intrinsic or extrinsic.
● The basic issues of ethics/moral philosophy are: freedom, duty, rights, responsibility,
happiness and goodness.
 UNITY IN DIVERSITY

● Unity in diversity general means, people of different backgrounds based on their socio-
economic, politico-cultural perspectives have to live like a single family.
● The different faiths and characters that people possess have to live in a compatible
manner under a single legal roof governed by a State. The same is applicable to people
around the world, and the nation-states.
● This being the main aim of international law to establish a one world concept, it had given
birth to human rights.
● Its aim is to achieve, the aspirations of profoundly divided humanity by setting a common
standard of norms for all people and nations.
● To accomplish the one world concept, the mankind has a responsibility to learn to live
harmoniously.
● It enable us to achieve the basic tenets of life, liberty, equality, dignity and freedom of
thought and expression with due care and caution to promote the rights of all the people
living in different political systems.
MEANING OF HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION

According to the UN decade document for human rights education (1995-2004);

Human Rights Education means, “a lifelong process by which people at all levels of
development and in all strata of society learn respect for the dignity of others and the means
and methods of ensuring that respect in all societies.”
SIGNIFICANCE OF HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION

● Achieving the principles of democracy, rule of law, and social justice.

● Help to establish peace and security.
● Enables us to achieve an all round socio-economic, political, and cultural sustainability.
OBJECTIVES OF HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION

● Human Rights Education promotes respect for human rights of all individuals.
● It develops the knowledge, skills, and values of human rights.
● It develops the socio-psychological, human personality.
● It helps people and policy makers to evolve the ways and means to overcome the
problems of each nation and that of the International Community.
● It helps to foster understanding, tolerance, gender and equality.
● It develops friendship among all nations and eliminates racial, ethnic, religious, and
linguistic differences.
 3 MAIN MODELS TO ACHIEVE THE AIMS &
OBJECTIVES OF HUMAN RIGHTS

1. Values & Awareness Model: This model focuses on transmitting basic knowledge of human
rights and to foster the integration into public values through a curriculum of educational
institutions.
2. Accountability Model: This model focuses on the ways in which professional
responsibilities to inculcate directly monitoring human rights violations and advocating the
authorities to protect the rights of the people.
3. Transformational Model: This model aims to empower the individuals in order to recognize
the abuses of human rights and their prevention.