Fundamental Human Rights

Fundamental human rights are the basic freedom and privileges that all people enjoy simply because they are human.

The most important international document on human rights that most countries agreed to is the “Universal Declaration of Human Rights”. Other international and regional documents also help to protect the rights of specific groups of people.

Categories/Types of human rights

Four types of fundamental human rights all work together to ensure the wellbeing of all human
beings.

Civil and Political rights (first generation rights)

• Civil rights refer to our most basic rights as human beings, such as the right to life, right to personal liberty, freedom of association etc.
• Civil and political rights are all related to the principle that people have the right to a life of liberty and freedom.
• They are called first generation rights because they were the first to be recognized

Economic rights, Social and Cultural rights (second generation rights)

• These rights provide people with protection against having basic things in life, such as food, shelter and health care, taken away from them, including special provision for example the disabled.
• Economic rights are related to the right of people to earn an income that will enable them to have a descent standard of living. It includes the right to be paid for work done, and have fair working conditions.

Collective rights (third generation rights)

• These are the rights of group of people to cultural, political and economic development.
• These rights go beyond the mere civil and social rights they are enjoyed together with other rights
• These include: right to self-determination, right to peace, right to communication, right to natural resources etc.

Factors that lead to human rights violation

Violation of Human rights is when the rights of human beings are being neglected or taken away
Factors threaten people’s rights: 

1. Lack of information: when people do not know that their rights are, it is easy for government or other people to violate their rights.
2. Corruption: e.g. corrupt officials may steal government money that is intended to provide services to people. People’s rights to water education and safe and healthy environment are threatened.
3. Cultural and religious beliefs: e.g., some extremist Islamic religious groups deny girls the right to education.
4. Poor governance: poor governance can lead to the country’s public money being wasted or misused. The local and central government is then not able to meet people’s needs for service that help to ensure basic human rights.
5. Poverty: people without money cannot afford things such as food, clothing, or housing. This means that their rights to food, health care, and education will be violated.
6. Conflicts: during wars or conflict between groups of people in a country, human rights are often violated. This is because during these times it is hard to keep law and order. It also becomes hard to provide social services for the people.

Obstacles to reporting human right violations

People do not report when their rights are violated because:

Fear of victimization

• Victimizations means that victims of human rights violations are threatened that they or their families will be hurt or killed if they speak out about the abuse. Others fear that the community will reject them if they talk about what happened to them.

Lack of support and information

• Victims of human rights violations often do not know who they can trust or how to go about reporting the violation.

Repressive governments and lack of press freedom

• Journalists all over the world are targeted and killed every year for reporting on rights violations especially in conflict areas
• Repressive totalitarian governments restrict press freedom by threatening and journalist.

Institutions and organisations that promote Human rights in Zambia.

Government institutions include:

Human Rights Commission (HRC)

• It is a national institution that was set up under Article 25 of the Constitution of Zambia. Its functions include the following: 

-Investigating and resolving human rights violation -Educate people about human rights
-Monitoring the conditions of prisons and the police cells in Zambia.

Zambia Police – Victim Support Unit

• The Zambia Police Victim Support Unit consists of specially trained police officers who focus on supporting victims of crimes such as rape, domestic violence, sexual abuse and human trafficking.
• This unit was set up in 1994 and started operating fully in 1998.

Non-governmental Organisation (NGOs)

Amnesty international

• The organization runs campaigns to end serious abuse of human rights. Its aim is for every person to enjoy all rights in the UDHR and other international human right.

2. Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA)

The YWCA is an international organization of Christian Women. It runs programmes aimed at the socio-economic empowerment of women and youths.

Lifeline/Child line Zambia

This NGO provides telephone help lines which adults and children can call to seek advice from trained councillors. Child line especially focuses on providing advice to children who are victims of child abuse. Childline dial 116.