1
Definition of human rights
According to the Office of High Commission for Human Rights (OHCHR), Human rights are
inherent to all human beings, whatever our race, nationality, place of residence, sex, ethnic
origins, religion, language or any other status. We are all equally entitled to our human rights
without discrimination. These rights are universal, inherent, inalienable.
- Magna Carta 1215 recognised the principle that everyone, even the king was subject to
the law.
Developing recognition of human rights
Abolition of slavery
- Slavery has existed since ancient times: the Roman Empire was built off the back of
slavery
- In 1887 the Society for the Abolition of Slavery was formed and they campaigned for the
abolition of slavery throughout the British Empire. Of the opinion that slavery was against
the teachings of Christianity.
- In 1862 Abraham Lincoln issued his ‘Emancipation Proclamation’ in which all slaves in
states still in rebellion would be free.
- In twentieth century slavery still existed in pockets around the world. Treatment of
Australian and US forces by the Japanese as slaves was seen to be one of the most
barbaric acts in history and it’s seen as a key driving force for the formation of the UN
and the Declaration of Human Rights
- UDHR article 4: “no one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade
shall be prohibited in all their forms.”
- Australia based Walk Free Foundation is a non-legal response to the 30 million people
living as forced labourers, forced prostitutes, child soldiers, child brides in forced
marriages and as pieces of property.
Trade unionism and labour rights
- A trade union is an organisation formed by workers that may campaign on broader social
and political issues such as global warming or political conflicts.
- Emerged as a result of the Industrial Revolution in response to appalling conditions.
Workers wished to address the imbalance of power between the employer and
employee by combining to form unions.
- Union movement in Australia led to the formation of the Labor Party in 19th century who
believe “Workers have fundamental democratic rights to representation in the workplace,
to freedom of association, to collectively bargain, and to organise and be represented by
their union.”
- UDHR article 23 section: 1,2,3,4 and article 24 and ICCPR protects this right
1
, - ACTU is now peak body representing unions in this country.
Universal suffrage
- Universal suffrage is the right for every adult citizen to vote in an election.
- Right to vote was originally confined to males who satisfied the requirement of owning
land.
- Women did not receive the vote until 1902 for the Federal parliament.
- Suffragette movement at the end of 19th century non-legal response to try and gain
suffrage for women.
- In the US women received the vote in 1920 but suffrage was still not universal as black
americans were prevented by groups such as the Ku Klux Klan.
- In 1994 universal suffrage was introduced to include all adults of all races. The right to
vote is included in the UDHR article 21
- The UN has taken a major role in ensuring suffrage in many nations. As a member state,
Australia is called on to supply a system of voting that ensures universal justice: The
Australian Electoral Commission (AEC).
Universal education
- The right to an education is a fundamental right.
- Enshrined in articles 13 and 14 of the ICESCR
- Education was only available to the aristocracy
- The gradual widening of suffrage during the 1960s and 70s helped to achieve universal
suffrage because it became recognised that people needed to be educated in order to
vote
- In france and germany, government started to fund schools
- In 1844, the NSW Legislative Council conducted an inquiry into education and found that
only 50% of the children aged between 4 and 14 received an education
- 130 million children aged between 6 and 11 are denied a basic education even though
the right to an education is set out in the International Covenant on Economic, Social
and Cultural Rights of the Child and in the UDHR art 26
- Australian colonial governments gradually established secular schools, which were free
and compulsory unless a child was enrolled in a church school.
- The Public Instruction Act 1880 NSW made education in NSW free, secular and
compulsory.
- Today, governments provide preschool education, compulsory schooling from
kindergarten to their 17th birthday and senior secondary education for years 11 and 12.
Self-determination
- According to the UN, self determination is: the right of people to determine how they will
be governed, or their political status, based on territory.
2
Definition of human rights
According to the Office of High Commission for Human Rights (OHCHR), Human rights are
inherent to all human beings, whatever our race, nationality, place of residence, sex, ethnic
origins, religion, language or any other status. We are all equally entitled to our human rights
without discrimination. These rights are universal, inherent, inalienable.
- Magna Carta 1215 recognised the principle that everyone, even the king was subject to
the law.
Developing recognition of human rights
Abolition of slavery
- Slavery has existed since ancient times: the Roman Empire was built off the back of
slavery
- In 1887 the Society for the Abolition of Slavery was formed and they campaigned for the
abolition of slavery throughout the British Empire. Of the opinion that slavery was against
the teachings of Christianity.
- In 1862 Abraham Lincoln issued his ‘Emancipation Proclamation’ in which all slaves in
states still in rebellion would be free.
- In twentieth century slavery still existed in pockets around the world. Treatment of
Australian and US forces by the Japanese as slaves was seen to be one of the most
barbaric acts in history and it’s seen as a key driving force for the formation of the UN
and the Declaration of Human Rights
- UDHR article 4: “no one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade
shall be prohibited in all their forms.”
- Australia based Walk Free Foundation is a non-legal response to the 30 million people
living as forced labourers, forced prostitutes, child soldiers, child brides in forced
marriages and as pieces of property.
Trade unionism and labour rights
- A trade union is an organisation formed by workers that may campaign on broader social
and political issues such as global warming or political conflicts.
- Emerged as a result of the Industrial Revolution in response to appalling conditions.
Workers wished to address the imbalance of power between the employer and
employee by combining to form unions.
- Union movement in Australia led to the formation of the Labor Party in 19th century who
believe “Workers have fundamental democratic rights to representation in the workplace,
to freedom of association, to collectively bargain, and to organise and be represented by
their union.”
- UDHR article 23 section: 1,2,3,4 and article 24 and ICCPR protects this right
1
, - ACTU is now peak body representing unions in this country.
Universal suffrage
- Universal suffrage is the right for every adult citizen to vote in an election.
- Right to vote was originally confined to males who satisfied the requirement of owning
land.
- Women did not receive the vote until 1902 for the Federal parliament.
- Suffragette movement at the end of 19th century non-legal response to try and gain
suffrage for women.
- In the US women received the vote in 1920 but suffrage was still not universal as black
americans were prevented by groups such as the Ku Klux Klan.
- In 1994 universal suffrage was introduced to include all adults of all races. The right to
vote is included in the UDHR article 21
- The UN has taken a major role in ensuring suffrage in many nations. As a member state,
Australia is called on to supply a system of voting that ensures universal justice: The
Australian Electoral Commission (AEC).
Universal education
- The right to an education is a fundamental right.
- Enshrined in articles 13 and 14 of the ICESCR
- Education was only available to the aristocracy
- The gradual widening of suffrage during the 1960s and 70s helped to achieve universal
suffrage because it became recognised that people needed to be educated in order to
vote
- In france and germany, government started to fund schools
- In 1844, the NSW Legislative Council conducted an inquiry into education and found that
only 50% of the children aged between 4 and 14 received an education
- 130 million children aged between 6 and 11 are denied a basic education even though
the right to an education is set out in the International Covenant on Economic, Social
and Cultural Rights of the Child and in the UDHR art 26
- Australian colonial governments gradually established secular schools, which were free
and compulsory unless a child was enrolled in a church school.
- The Public Instruction Act 1880 NSW made education in NSW free, secular and
compulsory.
- Today, governments provide preschool education, compulsory schooling from
kindergarten to their 17th birthday and senior secondary education for years 11 and 12.
Self-determination
- According to the UN, self determination is: the right of people to determine how they will
be governed, or their political status, based on territory.
2
