Why are human rights important?

Human rights are important in the relationships that exist between individuals and the government that has power over them. The government exercises power over its people. However, human rights mean that this power is limited. States have to look after the basic needs of the people and protect some of their freedoms. Some of the most important features of human rights are the following: They are for everyone. They are internationally guaranteed. They are protected by law. They focus on the dignity of the human being. They protect individuals and groups. They cannot be taken away.

Human rights declarations

Some basic human rights have been written down and agreed to by many states. The most famous text is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) which the UN General Assembly approved on 10 December 1948. International Human Rights Day is now celebrated on 10 December every year. The statement of principles in the Declaration has had a great influence all over the world, although governments are not forced by law to obey them. However, many lawyers would argue that because of the way the international world works, human rights have become legally binding and that governments now do have to obey some of the principles. Some of the human rights and freedoms listed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in other treaties (often called covenants, conventions or guidelines) include: The right to life. Freedom from discrimination. The right for everyone to be treated equally by the law. Freedom to have privacy in the family, home or with personal correspondence. Freedom of association, expression, assembly (gathering in groups) and movement. The right to seek and enjoy asylum (a safe home). The right to a nationality. Freedom of thought, conscience and religion. The right to vote and take part in government. The right to fair working conditions. The right to adequate food, shelter, clothing and social security. The right to health. The right to education. The right to property. The right to participate in cultural life. The right to development. Freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Freedom from arbitrary arrest or detention.When the Declaration was created, most states agreed to it. However, some countries did not sign the Declaration. At the time, South Africa was dominated by white people who did not want equal rights for

black people and so did not sign. Saudi Arabia also opposed the Declaration for religious reasons. One of the Articles (18) allows humans the freedom to change and practise the religion of their choice. Laws in Saudi Arabia mean that the practise of Christianity is forbidden and the right to change your religion from Islam to another

Islamic Perspective As an eternal religion of humanity, Islam is a champion of human rights and liberties. In actual practice, it was the first religion in the human history, which gave a charter of human rights & freedom. Islam gave to mankind an ideal code of human rights fourteen centuries ago. These rights aim at conferring honor and dignity on mankind and eliminating exploitation, oppression and injustice. Human rights in Islam are an integral part of the overall Islamic order and it is obligatory on all Muslim governments and organs of society to implement within the framework. Charter of H. rights: In the light of Holy Quran, Our Holy Prophet (s.a.a.w) issued a vast package of human rights, which terminated all blood feuds and enmities. Lawlessness came to an end, and life, liberty & property of everybody was honored and protected. Almost equal rights are granted to the Non Muslims as well. In Islam, the last sermon of Holy Prophet (s.a.a.w) is considered as the charter of human rights. Few imp points are: I. Right to Life: Human life is sacred and inviolable and every effort shall be made to protect it. Islam provided the right to life to all humans irrespective of their religion, cast or sex. II. Right to Freedom: Man is born free. No restrictions shall be made on his right to liberty except in due process of the Law. Every individual and every person has the inalienable right to freedom in all its forms; physical, cultural, economic and political. It also includes: Right to Freedom of Religion, Right to Freedom of Thought and expression, and Right to Freedom of Movement. III. Right to Protection Against Torture: No person shall be subjected to torture in mind or body, or degraded, or threatened. No body can be forced to confess to the commission of a crime or to consent to an act, which is injurious to his interests IV. Right to Own Property: Islam also provides the right of own property by all the citizens of state without any discrimination. No property may be expropriated except in the public interest and on payment of fair and adequate compensation. V. Right to Social Security: Every person has the right to food; shelter, clothing, education and medical care consistent with the resources of the community. This obligation of the community extends in particular to all individuals who cannot take care of themselves due to some temporary or permanent disability. VI. Right to Education: Every person is entitled to receive education in accordance with his natural capabilities irrespective of sex. Every person is entitled to a free choice of profession and career and to the opportunity for the full development of his personality. What is Child Labour? It is difficult to define child labour since the terms child and labour both resist universal definition because of cultural and social differences from one country to another. ILO (International Labour Office) has specified the concept through its Minimum Age convention 1973 Where it encourages member states to set a minimum age that is not less then the completion age for compulsory schooling, or in any case not less than 15 years. So in India a child labourer is one who is below 18 years of age, out of school and has no avocation other than work. Although child work is not synonymous to child to labour, most children, in whatever society they live, work in one way or another. For example, in rural areas of India most of the children are involved in agriculture, cultivation forestry etc. Work of this kind is not considered child labour.

Situation of Child Labour World wide at least 120 million children between the ages of 5 to 14 years work full time and there are 250 million or more children do child labour as secondary activity.[ILO Bureau of statistics 2000] Asia alone covers almost 60% of total child labour force of world, whereas 32% in Africa, and 7% in Latin America. Percentages of Economically active children in Asia between 1014 years of age (Source ILO, Estimates & projections 1995) Bhutan 55% Nepal 45% Bangladesh 30% Pakistan 18% Thailand 16% India 14% China 12% Indonesia 10% Vietnam 9% Philippines 8% What is Child Labour? It is difficult to define child labour since the terms child and labour both resist universal definition because of cultural and social differences from one country to another. ILO (International Labour Office) has specified the concept through its Minimum Age convention 1973 Where it encourages member states to set a minimum age that is not less then the completion age for compulsory schooling, or in any case not less than 15 years. So in India a child labourer is one who is below 18 years of age, out of school and has no avocation other than work. Although child work is not synonymous to child to labour, most children, in whatever society they live, work in one way or another. For example, in rural areas of India most of the children are involved in agriculture, cultivation forestry etc. Work of this kind is not considered child labour. Around 10 million children were affected by the massive floods, 2.5 million of them younger than 5. The 18th Amendment recognised free and compulsory education as a right for all children between 5 to 16 years of age. However, allocation of appropriate financial resources to fulfil that commitment remained absent. Child labour and abuse of domestic child workers remained widespread. 1,154 juveniles were detained in the prisons across the country. 170 juveniles committed suicide across Pakistan and another 76 attempted suicide but their lives were saved. Over one million child labourers between the ages of 10 to 14 were working in the country. Recommendations: 1. The disaster response and recovery mechanisms in Pakistan need to be given serious attention as the two major natural disasters in Pakistan in recent years have had severe impact on children. The government should expedite restoration of schools destroyed in the recent floods and in the conflict in the countrys northwestern parts. 2. As child welfare falls in the provincial domain following the 18th constitutional Amendment, all child protection bills introduced at the federal level have been halted in different phases of legislative process. The legal imbroglio surrounding these laws, specifically regarding whether they fall under the provincial or federal domain, must be resolved on a priority basis, to ensure welfare and protection of children. The Inter- Provincial Coordination Committee must expedite its decisions on the future of the National Child Protection Policy pursuant to the 18th Amendment. 3. Specific law and policies must be formulated to address the issues of domestic child labour and abuse of domestic child workers. Child domestic labour should be added to the schedule of

banned occupations under the Employment of Children Act, 1991. 4. A new child labour survey must be conducted to assess the current situation and to develop the law and policies accordingly. 5. The government should hold special training for judges, probation officers, prison staff and police on the Juvenile Justice Ordinance, 2000 so that this law can be implemented in its true spirit.