Speech on Human Rights
Human beings have been always eager to secure their all rights because it is only by the use of these that they can develop their personalities and work for the betterment of society. However it was only in the 20th century, particularly after the end of the Second World War, that protection and respect for Human Rights of all came to be recognized as the key objective of our civilized life.
The UN Charter was adopted in 1945 and it expressed a” firm faith and respect for Human Rights of all the people living in all parts of the globe. Human Rights came to be recognized as the common concerns of the humanity.
The deep concern for human rights stands fully reflected on all the pages of the Lin Charter. The Preamble of the UN Charter repeatedly contains several references to human rights. It reaffirms faith in “fundamental human rights and in the dignity and worth of the human person, and in the equal rights of men and women…”
For fulfilling this objective, the UN lost no time in appointing a Commission on Human Rights. The Human Rights Commission was constituted in 1946 which prepared the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The UN General Assembly adopted this Declaration on 10 December, 1948. Thereafter, several covenants/conventions (Agreements among Nations) were adopted for securing the Human Rights described by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The following major Conventions (International Treaties) came to be adopted after the adoption of Universal Declaration of Human Rights:
1. Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide 1948.
2. Convention on Political Rights of Women 1952.
3. Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights 1966.
4. Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 1966.
5. Convention on the Non-applicability of Statutory Limitations to War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity-1968.
6. Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid- 1973.
These conventions/covenants and several treaties and declarations have provided a legal basis to the UN Declaration of Human Rights (1948). Now all the nations of the world are fully committed to secure and protect the Human Rights all the people living in all parts of the globe.
Generally rights are defined as claims of the individual recognised by the society and enforced by the state. These are considered essential claims as without these no person can in general can seek to be at his best self. The Random House Encyclopaedia says, “Human Rights mean: Powers, conditions of existence and possession on which an individual has claims or title by virtue of being human.” These are those rights which are inherent in all human beings. These are absolutely essential for the human beings.
These are essential conditions for their full development as well as for the use of their qualities, intelligence and conscience for satisfying all human and social needs and interests of all the people of the World. Human Rights are rights independent of particular conditions of social recognition.
These are inherent in the very nature of each human being as a conscious and self-respecting individual. These are the very basis of human life, dignity and worth. These are the natural and essential conditions of happy and prosperous living of all the people of the world. Whereas Rights available under law differ from state to state. Human Rights are available to all the persons of all the states without any exception.