in English - Handicap International
in English - Handicap International
in English - Handicap International
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Chapter II<br />
What are human rights?<br />
CHAPTER II<br />
After f<strong>in</strong>ish<strong>in</strong>g this chapter, readers should fully understand the concept of human rights and<br />
be able to identify the ma<strong>in</strong> features of these rights, dist<strong>in</strong>guish between different types of<br />
rights, and evaluate the importance of human rights to people with disabilities.<br />
1. Def<strong>in</strong>ition and features of human rights<br />
- Human rights are freedoms, faculties or basic values that guarantee a dignified life, which<br />
are possessed by all people based on the simple fact that they are human be<strong>in</strong>gs. It is the<br />
responsibility of governments to respect, guarantee, or satisfy such rights. (Morales Gil de la<br />
Torre, Héctor).<br />
- Human rights are also legal guarantees that protect people and groups of people aga<strong>in</strong>st<br />
acts by governments that might compromise fundamental rights and human dignity.<br />
- Human rights regulations obligate governments to do certa<strong>in</strong> th<strong>in</strong>gs that favor people and<br />
the full enjoyment of their rights, and that impede others from limit<strong>in</strong>g, restrict<strong>in</strong>g or condition<strong>in</strong>g<br />
the enjoyment of such rights.<br />
- The follow<strong>in</strong>g are some of the features of human rights:<br />
• They focus on human dignity,<br />
• They are legally protected,<br />
• They are <strong>in</strong>ternationally guaranteed,<br />
• They protect people and groups of people,<br />
• They obligate States and state agents,<br />
• They may neither be the object of exceptions nor be elim<strong>in</strong>ated,<br />
• They are equal and <strong>in</strong>terdependent,<br />
• They are universal.<br />
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