2. In this presentation, you will learn;
That human rights play a part in everyday life
That every human being is entitled to certain basic rights
That basic human rights in Britain are set out in the Human Rights Act (1998), and that
these rights are different from other rights
3. Human Rights
Consider the sort of rights you, as a child, would like.
Some of you probably want the right to drive a car, buy alcohol and wear what you like to
school.
Others may want the right to work full time from the age of 14 or to stay out late at night.
There is nothing wrong with wanting these things but, of course, there are reasons why
you don’t have them as rights.
Discuss why you think you cannot simply have the rights you want.
4. What Are Your Rights?
The European Convention on the Rights of a Child is shown below.
1. Children are entitled to a name and nationality.
2. Children should be provided with the benefits of social care, including
adequate housing, recreation and medical services.
3. Children who are physically or mentally handicapped should be provided with
extra care as appropriate.
4. Children should not be discriminated against because of age, colour, religion,
language or anything else.
5. Children should be given adequate opportunities and facilities to develop
emotionally, spiritually, morally and physically.
6. In all situations, children should be the first to receive protection and care.
7. Children should be protected against cruelty, neglect and exploitation.
8. Children should be protected from any practices which may encourage
discrimination.
9. Children are entitled to a free education.
10. Children are entitled to love and understanding.
Do you think all children receive these rights?
5. Do They Work For Everyone?
Now that you have seen the Rights of Children, do you think they are
appropriate to all people?
In other words, are there some people who might need more human rights?
Imagine an adult at work who is being told to work more hours than they feel they should
be. Are they protected in the rights you have seen so far?
The answer is that they are not.
In those rights, only children are protected.
How do you think adults are protected?
6. Human Rights
In 1988, the British Government drew up a list of Human Rights (Human Rights
Act) for all British people. All humans being have;
the right to life
freedom from torture and degraded treatment
freedom from slavery and forced labour
the right to liberty
the right to a fair trial
the right not to be punished for something that wasn't a crime when you did it
the right to respect for private and family life
freedom of thought, conscience and religion
freedom of expression
freedom of assembly and association
the right to marry or form a civil partnership and start a family
the right not to be discriminated against in respect of these rights and freedoms
the right to own property
the right to an education
the right to participate in free elections
7. Are These Rights Appropriate? – A Task
Take a closer look at each of the Human Rights listed on the previous page. They
all seem like perfectly sensible rights to give to people.
The question is. . . .
Are they all possible?
Try to give an example for each one where it might not be appropriate for a person
to have that right.
One has been done for you.
The right to freedom of expression
If somebody wants to say something racist, they shouldn’t be allowed to use this
right.
8. Are These Rights Appropriate? – A Task
Have a look at some other examples.
The right to respect for private and family life.
Do famous people have the right to protection from the paparazzi?
The right to participate in free elections.
Should a mass murderer be allowed to vote and decide who runs the country?
The right to life.
Should people on death row be spared their sentence so they can have
their right to life?
9. Who Controls Our Human Rights?
So far, we have understood why we are entitled to human rights.
We also know that we don’t always receive every single human
right we are entitled to.
Why do you think this is?
In democratic countries (such as the UK), it is the job of the
elected Government to make decisions to protect their citizens.
Sometimes, to protect the majority of citizens, it is necessary to
limit peoples human rights.
For example
The Race Relations Act makes it illegal to make racial comments
or print racist literature. This prevents peoples freedom of
expression, but it is in the best interests of everybody to do so.
10. Tasks
Over the next few slides, you will read some case studies about people who have
lost some of their human rights.
Your task is to work out which human rights they have lost.
The answers will be provided at the end.
Remember – it is as important to be able to explain your answer as it is to get it
right.
11. Case Study 1
John is a 15 year old boy who lives in England. He was abandoned by his mother
as a baby before being named. As he grew up, he was moved around different
foster homes and, as a result, has never attended school. He is now homeless
after running away from his last foster home.
(Use the children’s rights to help you answer this)
Children should be provided with the benefits of social care, including adequate
housing, recreation and medical services.
It is likely that he has missed out on adequate social care and medical services
due to being moved from home to home.
Children should be given adequate opportunities and facilities to develop
emotionally, spiritually, morally and physically.
John’s development in all areas will have been hindered by his upbringing.
You will have found more rights that he has lost. These are here to start you off.
12. Case Study 2
Jane is a 45 year old singer in a band. She is very famous throughout
the UK and is often followed around by newspaper photographers
who want a picture of her. She recently slapped a photographer and
was sent to prison for 6 weeks. During that time, she was unable to
vote in the General Election.
(Use the 1988 Human Rights Act to help you answer this)
The right to respect for private and family life.
Photographers who take pictures of Jane without her permission are surely
infringing on her right to privacy.
The right to participate in free elections.
Whilst in prison, Jane was unable to vote. This meant she lost her right to vote in
free elections.
You will have found more rights that she has lost. These are here to start you off.
13. Case Study 3
Hans is a 33 year old man from Eastern Europe. He was forced to leave his home
due to a civil war that was going on. He and his family fled their torture and
came to the UK. Hans is in the UK legally but is unable to find a school for his
children to be educated. He is also finding it difficult to get a job and cannot
afford to buy a house for his family.
(Use the 1988 Human Rights Act to help you answer this)
Freedom from torture and degraded treatment.
Whilst Hans may receive this in the UK, he was subjected to torture in his home
country by being put at risk in the war.
The right to an education.
His children have lost this right as they have been unable to find a school to
attend.
You will have found more rights that he has lost. These are here to start you off.
14.
15. What Have We Learnt?
Children have rights which they are entitled to
All human beings in the UK have rights as a result of the 1988 Human Rights Act
Sometimes we lose our rights when the Government pass laws to protect us
On other occasions, people lose rights simply as a result of being unlucky