Human Rights Education for Peace and Conflict Resolution

Introduction

‘Human Rights’ as positivist manifestations of ethical category and naturalist concept are entrenched in both domestic as well as international law (Alam, 2007). These are universal rights; belong to every person simply because he or she is a human being. Human rights, now pervade all aspects of human life, are based on the principle that every human being is born equal in dignity and rights. All human rights are equally important and they cannot be taken away under any circumstances. The concept acknowledges that every single human being is entitled to enjoy own human rights without distinction as to race, colour, sex, language, religion, political and other opinions, national and social origin, property, birth and other status. These are basically few natural rights which cannot be denied, but at the same time cannot be guaranteed by the statutory law. Thomas Paine, a French scholar first used the term ‘Human Rights’ while translating French Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen from French to English. In fact, human rights are the centre of gravity; all other objectives of the United Nations Charter are based on this (Rahman, 2008). These rights are alienable, i.e. cannot be destroyed or opposed. Their denial is not only an individual and personal tragedy but also creates conditions of social and political unrest, sowing the seeds of violence and conflict within and between societies and nations.

Protection and promotion of human rights is now considered one of the main goals of modern welfare states (Faruque, 2012). Human rights are important because they protect our right to live in dignity, which includes the right to life, freedom and security. To live in dignity means that we should have things such as a decent place to live and enough to eat. It means we should be able to participate in society, to receive an education, to work, to practice our religion, to speak our own language, and to live in peace. Human rights are a tool to protect people from violence and abuse. Human rights foster mutual respect among people. Human rights incite conscious and responsible action to ensure the rights of others are not violated. For example, it is our right to live free from all forms of discrimination, but at the same time, it is our responsibility not to discriminate against others. Human rights are recognized as inherent dignity and it is the obligation of the state to promote and protect these rights, which is in fact a big challenge.

The United Nations Charter, adopted in 1945, was the first international instrument by which international protection of human rights have been legally recognized. The Charter declares that the highest purposes of the organization are to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war…, to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights…, to establish conditions under which justice and respect for…international law can be maintained,…and to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom (Schlesinger, 2004). The Charter refers to human rights in its Preamble and in six Articles. In the Preamble, the peoples of the United Nations express their determination to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, and to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom. The human rights provisions of the Charter are quite extensive. As set forth in the very Article 1 of the Charter, one of the main purposes of the United Nations is to promote respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion.