RIGHTS

Rights are defined as freedoms and liberties conferred naturally and legally on an individual on account of his or her membership of a community, organization or a country.

 

LIBERTY

It refers to the freedom which the individual possesses which enable him to enjoy his or her social order.

 

RESPONSIBILITY

It refers to what a person is expected or obliged to do as a duty in a society.

 

TYPES OF RIGHTS

1.  1.    Fundamental Human Rights or natural rights or civil or private rights

These are conditions or rights which are inalienable to a person and which need to be protected. They are part and parcel of individuals and cannot be deprived of them. These rights include:

a.       Right to life

b.      Right to personal liberties

c.       Rights to human dignity

d.      Right to personal privacy

e.       Right to the properties of one’s spouse

f.       Right to protection from slavery, forced labour, among others

g.      Right to freedom of movement

h.      Right to freedom of speech and public expression

i.        Right to freedom of assembly and association

j.        Right to freedom of thought and conscience

k.      Right to freedom to practice any religion of one’s choice

l.        Right of the sick

m.    Right of disabled persons.


 

2.  2.    Legal rights

These are rights which are defined by the laws of a country. They provide the individual free access to the court to sue and to be sued or to seek redress upon the violation of their rights. These rights include:

a.       The right to sue and be sued

b.      The right to seek legal aid

c.       The right to equality before the law

d.      The right to a fair trial at the court of law

e.       The right to seek redress before a court

f.       The right to protection from arbitrary arrest, detention without trial and others.

g.  Right to appear as a witness

 

3. 3.     Political rights

These are rights that enable individuals to participate in the political activities of the country. That is to say that, these rights enable the individual to take part in the ruling or affairs in his or her country. These rights include:

a.       The right to constructive criticism or suggestions about how the country should be administered

b.      The right to vote and be voted for in an election

c.       The right to form a political party or join any political association of one’s choice

d.      The right to stand as a candidate during election periods

e.       The right of citizens to ask for periodic elections.

 

4. 4.    Social rights

These are rights that empowers the individual to use any public facility or amenities, such as roads, hospital, schools etc., without any discrimination based on the person’s religion, sex and tribe. These rights include:

a.       Right to education

b.      Right to medical care (Right to good health)

c.       Right to use public facilities

 

5. 5.     Economic rights

These are rights which enables the individual to job or work or be employed to earn a descent income.

These rights include:

a.       The right to look for a job and work under satisfactory conditions

b.      The right to freedom from discrimination on the grounds of sex, tribe, religious affiliations if he or she is applying for a job.

c.       The right to equal pay for equal work

d.      The right to own property and to dispose of it.


6. Civil rights

These are privileges or freedom enjoyed by individuals who are citizens of a country.

These rights include:

a. Right to vote during elections

b. The right to apply for passport or national Identity card of a country


CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH THE RIGHTS OF AN INDIVIDUAL CAN BE CURTAILED OR SUSPENDED OR LIMITED

  1. People suffering from insanity and other deformities
  2. When thee is national emergency, e.g war
  3. When a person fails to pay his/her taxes honestly and promptly, he can be jailed
  4. Indecent exposure of parts of the body
  5. Engaging in unlawful associations
  6. An individual infected with contagious diseases can be quarantined e.g. covid-19, chicken pox etc.
  7. When a person is convicted of a crime or treason by a court
  8. Unlawful entry into the country.
  9. Entry into restricted areas e.g. military installations, forest reserves etc.
  10. Suspected criminals
  11. Unlawful assembly.
  12. When one incites people to attack other people

HOW INDIVIDUALS CAN ENJOY THEIR FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS
  1. There should be a vigorous public education campaign
  2. The judiciary must be independent
  3. An independent press
  4. Establishment of Democratic institutions
  5. Legally fighting and defending rights
  6. Clearly stating and entrenching the rights in the constitution.
  7. Effective enforcement of the law.

WHY THE RIGHTS OF CITIZENS ARE PROTECTED IN A STATE
  1. To enable the citizens to become active participants in decision making process.
  2. For the individual to be able to own a property.
  3. To make them able to join the political party of their choice.
  4. To enable the individual to have education up to the level of their choice
  5. To have the right to seek legal aid.
  6. To be able to freely express their opinions or views without any form of intimidation.
  7. To enable the individual to participate freely in economic activities. 
  8. To have the right to sue and be sued.
  9. To protect the individual from inhuman cultural practices.
  10. To take up positions in public offices in the state.
  11. To be able to access financial support from institutions/ banks and insurance firms
  12. Residents cordially and peacefully in the state.
  13. Use any public facility without any discrimination. 
  14. To protect the individual from abuse/ oppression, coercion etc.
  15. To make the individual legible to vote and be voted for.