National Human Rights

National Human Rights are fundamental rights and freedoms to which all individuals are inherently entitled. They serve as the basis for the creation and development of just, democratic, and inclusive societies. In this article, you will gain a deeper understanding of national human rights, their importance in society, and the key principles and values that underpin them. You will also explore real-life examples of national human rights and their violations. Furthermore, you will learn about the role of National Human Rights Institutions, their functions and responsibilities, and the collaboration among these bodies in promoting human rights. Finally, you will examine national human rights in the context of European and International human rights laws and how they can be harmonised with global standards.

Understanding National Human Rights

National human rights form the basis of a just and fair society and serve as a legal framework for the protection of human dignity. To truly understand the concept, you must delve into its meaning, importance, principles, and several examples.

Defining National Human Rights Meaning

Importance of national human rights in society

National human rights serve a critical purpose in society, playing a crucial role in the following aspects:

• Protection of human dignity and respect: National human rights help ensure that each person is treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their nationality or background.
• Establishing legal frameworks: They provide a foundation for legislation that safeguards people against discrimination, abuse, and other forms of mistreatment.
• Promoting social cohesion: By promoting equal treatment and opportunities for all, national human rights help create a more fair and just society where everyone can thrive.
• Accountability: They enable the protection and prosecution of those who violate human rights, ensuring that accountability mechanisms are in place to address inequalities and injustices.

Key principles and values behind national human rights

The key principles and values that underpin national human rights are as follows:

• Universality: Human rights are inalienable and apply to everyone, regardless of nationality, race, gender, religion, or other status.
• Equality and non-discrimination: All individuals have equal rights, and no one should be discriminated against based on characteristics such as ethnicity, religion, or gender.
• Participation: Every person has the right to participate in decisions that affect their lives and well-being.
• Accountability and the rule of law: Governments and authorities must be held accountable for their actions and must implement and enforce laws to protect human rights.

Exploring National Human Rights Examples

Various examples of national human rights can be found in real-world situations, showcasing how these rights play an essential role in contemporary societies.

Real-life case studies in national human rights

To demonstrate the practical application of national human rights, consider the following case studies:

1. In 1955, Rosa Parks made history in the US by refusing to give up her seat on a bus to a white passenger, sparking the modern civil rights movement. Her actions highlighted the importance of non-discrimination and the right to equal treatment under the law.
2. In 2012, education activist Malala Yousafzai was shot by the Taliban in Pakistan for advocating for girls' right to education. Her courageous stand emphasised the importance of gender equality and the right to education as human rights.
3. The 1989 Tiananmen Square protests in China exemplified the importance of freedom of speech and the right to peaceful assembly, as thousands of protesters demanded political reform and greater freedoms.

Different types of national human rights violations

Violations of national human rights can manifest in many forms, including:

Understanding national human rights, their importance, principles, and real-world examples can empower you to identify violations and ensure a just and fair society for all.

National Human Rights Institutions

National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) play a crucial role in the promotion and protection of human rights within individual countries, acting as an important link between the state, citizens, and international human rights bodies.

The role of a National Human Rights Institute

NHRIs are both legally and organisationally independent from governments, which allows them to uphold human rights standards unbiasedly, and focus on addressing violations and advocating for positive change. The NHRIs are responsible for a variety of tasks across several spheres of human rights.

Functions and responsibilities of national human rights institutes

Key functions and responsibilities of NHRIs include:

• Monitoring: Keeping track of human rights issues within their countries, observing national trends, assessing compliance with international standards, and providing recommendations to address human rights concerns.
• Investigating: Receiving complaints from individuals, conducting inquiries into allegations of human rights violations, and providing redress or recommending appropriate actions.
• Advising: Offering independent advice to governments, assisting them in developing policies, laws, and practices that uphold human rights standards, and helping to ratify international human rights conventions.
• Education: Raising awareness of human rights by providing educational materials and programmes and promoting a culture of human rights through various public engagement initiatives.
• Cooperation: Establishing partnerships with civil society, non-governmental organisations, and other human rights bodies, both nationally and internationally, to maximise their impact and effectiveness.

Establishing and strengthening national human rights bodies

Efforts to establish and strengthen NHRIs around the world have been ongoing in recent years. The United Nations has developed a set of guidelines, known as the Paris Principles, to assist governments in creating effective NHRIs. The Paris Principles outline the following criteria for establishing and strengthening NHRIs:

• Independence: Ensuring legal and functional independence from government interference, including financial autonomy and transparent appointment processes.
• Pluralism: Encouraging diversity in the composition of NHRIs, including representation from various social backgrounds and sectors of society.
• Responsiveness: Ensuring NHRIs possess a broad human rights mandate and the capacity to address a range of issues.
• Accessible complaint mechanisms: Establishing effective and accessible systems where individuals can report human rights violations.
• Accountability and transparency: Implementing clear and transparent procedures, reporting regularly on activities, and being accountable to the public and key stakeholders.

Cooperation between National Human Rights Institutes

Collaboration among NHRIs is essential for promoting a higher level of human rights protection and sharing best practices globally. They strive to build effective alliances and networks that can benefit from shared resources, learn from each other's experiences and enhance their collective impact.

Shared initiatives and resources among national human rights institutes

NHRIs establish networks and forums for sharing information, learning from each other's successes and challenges, and collaborating on joint projects. Some examples of shared initiatives and resources among NHRIs include:

• Regional networks: Groups of NHRIs from specific geographical regions, such as the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions, African Network of National Human Rights Institutions, and Asia Pacific Forum of NHRIs, fostering regional cooperation and sharing of best practices.
• Thematic alliances: Coalitions of NHRIs focusing on specific human rights issues, such as women's rights, children's rights, or the rights of people with disabilities, to raise awareness and drive positive change in those areas.
• Capacity building: Training, technical assistance, and exchange of expertise to help NHRIs increase their effectiveness and become stronger advocates for human rights in their respective countries.
• Advocacy: Joint campaigns, statements, and publications, addressing human rights challenges at the national, regional, and international level, and influencing decision-makers and the public.

Effectiveness of collaboration in promoting human rights

Collaboration among NHRIs has proven to be effective in promoting human rights by:

• Enhancing knowledge and expertise: Sharing experiences, challenges, and best practices allows NHRIs to learn from one another, improving their capacity to protect and promote human rights more effectively in their countries.
• Promoting shared objectives: Collaborating on joint projects, research, and advocacy efforts helps NHRIs coordinate the promotion of shared values and human rights objectives more efficiently.
• Building credibility and influence: Working together enables NHRIs to present a united front to governments, international bodies, and other stakeholders, amplifying their voices and messages and enhancing their credibility and influence in human rights policy formulation and implementation.
• Facilitating engagement with international human rights mechanisms: Cooperation helps NHRIs better engage with international human rights bodies, such as the United Nations Human Rights Council, promoting compliance with international human rights standards and recommendations.

Overall, NHRIs play a crucial role in promoting and protecting human rights within their countries, and collaboration is vital for maximising their impact and effectiveness.

National Human Rights in the Global Context

In an increasingly interconnected world, national human rights no longer stand in isolation from their regional and global counterparts. Considering the broader context of national human rights in relation to European and international human rights is crucial to understanding the complex interactions and harmonisation efforts that occur between these levels of human rights protection.

National Human Rights and European Human Rights

European human rights, primarily governed by the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), play a significant role in shaping national human rights across Europe and influencing domestic legislation and jurisprudence.

Comparing and contrasting national and European human rights

While national human rights are country-specific and can differ in their scope and content, European human rights are common to all member states of the Council of Europe. Here are some key comparisons and contrasts between the two:

• Source: National human rights stem from national constitutions, laws, and legal frameworks, whereas European human rights primarily arise from the ECHR and related case law of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).
• Membership: National human rights are applicable to citizens within a particular country, while European human rights apply to all individuals within the jurisdiction of the 47 member states of the Council of Europe.
• Enforcement mechanisms: National human rights are enforced by domestic courts, institutions, and legislation, while European human rights are enforceable through the ECtHR in Strasbourg, which reviews allegations of human rights violations by Council of Europe member states.
• Standards: European human rights standards often inform and influence national human rights standards, encouraging domestic legal systems to align their norms with those of the Council of Europe.

The interplay between national and European human rights law

The relationship between national and European human rights systems is often described as complementary, with both levels of human rights protection working together to uphold and enforce these rights. The key aspects of this interplay include:

• Subsidiarity: According to the principle of subsidiarity, national authorities should assume the primary responsibility for the implementation and enforcement of European human rights, with the ECtHR acting as a last resort when domestic remedies have been exhausted.
• Margin of appreciation: The ECtHR grants a level of discretion to national authorities, known as the "margin of appreciation", which allows states some flexibility in interpreting and applying European human rights standards to their specific domestic context.
• Incorporation of the ECHR into national law: Some countries, such as the United Kingdom, have incorporated the ECHR directly into their domestic legal systems through legislation (e.g., the Human Rights Act 1998), allowing national courts to enforce European human rights standards.
• Dialogue between national courts and the ECtHR: Regular judicial dialogue and referrals to the jurisprudence of both domestic and European courts helps in aligning national and European human rights standards, fostering a more unified system of human rights protection.

National Human Rights and International Human Rights

International human rights, enshrined in various United Nations (UN) treaties and instruments, establish a global framework for the protection and promotion of human rights, often influencing and shaping national human rights systems.

Understanding the relationship between national and international human rights

Both international and national human rights systems exist to promote and protect fundamental human rights. The relationship between these systems involve several key aspects:

• Source: International human rights derive from UN treaties, such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), while national human rights stem from national constitutions, laws, and legal frameworks.
• Ratification and implementation: When a country ratifies an international human rights treaty, it commits to implementing its provisions and usually enshrines these rights domestically.
• Monitoring and reporting: States are required to report periodically to UN treaty bodies on their progress in implementing international human rights standards, which can drive positive change in national human rights systems.
• Universal Periodic Review (UPR): The UPR is a mechanism of the UN Human Rights Council, which provides an opportunity for countries to assess the progress made in the area of human rights, highlighting both achievements and areas of concern.

Harmonising national human rights with international standards

Harmonising national human rights with international standards involves a range of measures designed to ensure consistency and coherence between the two systems. Key aspects of this harmonisation process include:

• Incorporation of international human rights treaties into domestic law: This can be done through legislation that directly incorporates treaty provisions, or through the interpretation of domestic laws in light of international standards.
• National action plans: States can develop and implement national action plans for human rights, outlining their commitments to improving human rights and outlining the steps they will take to fulfill their international human rights obligations.
• Collaboration with civil society: Governments and national human rights institutions can collaborate with civil society organisations, NGOs, and others in the promotion, monitoring, and implementation of international human rights standards at the national level.
• Capacity building and technical assistance: International organisations, treaty bodies, and other experts can provide support to states in strengthening their national human rights systems in line with international standards, through training, technical assistance, and the exchange of expertise.

By understanding the global context of national human rights, it is essential to explore the interactions, comparisons, and harmonisation efforts between these rights and their European and international counterparts, ensuring a comprehensive, multilevel system of human rights protection.