Human Rights are important because they serve to achieve a certain level of human dignity. But what does one mean by the term human rights? Human beings have an inherent value simply by virtue of being human. One generally treats something of value with respect and holds it in esteem. Simply, human rights dictate a basic treatment to which every human has the right. Dignity is the outward emanation of self-pride, self- love, and self-regard. It bespeaks a consideration of place in the universe. Dignity involves one's views of right and wrong relative to one's actions and the actions of others. Human rights help a person achieve a certain level of self-value. Human rights and dignity go hand in hand.
How do human rights translate into dignity? What makes them so important? As an example, a freed slave, though not accorded the respect of a white man in 19th century America, was held in greater esteem than a slave was. A freed slave could make decisions. This gave him a sense of self that the slave did not have. One need not ask a slave if this was true. This nation fought a war over the right of self-determination for this segment of its population. The basic human right of self-determination was translated into dignity for a nation as well as a people, when it made the decision to abolish slavery.
One may argue that it was the right of slave owners to maintain their economic way of life, without the judgment and interference of others.
A slave was provided food, shelter and work. Slaves were valuable property.
No one had the right to disrupt the status quo of the slave owner. One did not have to own slaves. If slavery did not fit into one's moral stance, one did not have to participate. Even the economics of the issue were to the advantage of the free man. Unpaid labor certainly must have kept the price of goods low for all those who could purchase them. What right did the abolitionists have to condemn slavery?
Yet, the argument...
Human Rights The concept of Human Rights has a long history of over two thousand years and its origin can be traced to the moral philosophies of Aristotle and the Stoic philosophers. The theory of human rights, however, has broadened in concept over the centuries and its contemporary form reflects the development in human thought over time. In the present day world, Human Rights aim to secure for individuals the necessary
Human Rights and Child Prostitution in Haiti The Republic of Haiti is a Caribbean country occupying smaller portion of Hispaniola Island. It shares the island with Dominican which is equally another Caribbean country with population of just over 600, 000. In 2011, the population of the Republic of Haiti hit 9 million-mark with chances of a tremendous growth projected in the subsequent years. With the capital located at Port-au-Prince, the country's
As it pertains to sweatshops, indications that the company was operating sweatshops came first in 1998. During this time sweatshops were found in Asia and the company was only paying workers 80 cents per day. Nike's behavior in both these instances created a backlash that is still present. Prior to the findings of human rights violations, Nike had a good reputation as an employer. However, after the presence of human
Education is sorely lacking in my country, and this degree would be a major step forward in my quest to change this situation. I cannot pretend that all of my motives are purely altruistic; I am, of course, attracted to the financial security that this degree and subsequent degrees would help me attain. In addition, I have a family of my own that requires both my financial and moral support.
In other words, the power and the wealth could easily fall in the hand of the few privileged ones, and their rights would be better served, than those of the marginalized, powerless and poor population (Paribatra, 1999). 6. Conclusions and Recommendations The section on the analysis of the issues at hand commenced stating that the purpose of the briefing paper was a simple one: identifying the positive or negative nature of
Shell Oil in Nigeria Discussions on economic hardship, environmental devastation, and political corruption in Nigeria always seem to come back to the Dutch Shell Oil Company. The company is charged by activists and Wiwa as influencing the Nigerian government to act illegally and, if we believe the allegations, monstrously in violation of human rights in order to exploit the oil resources in the Niger River Delta area (Livesey 58; Saro-Wiwa 7).
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