Understanding Multiple Choice Questions

Study Notes

This university textbook covers introduction to human rights and duties.
It comprises four units covering basic concepts, the perspective of rights and duties, terminology of legal instruments, and the United Nations and human rights.
The book further includes a preface, a foreword, and annexures.
The book is primarily aimed at students of the University of Pune.

Significance of values: Values are fundamental to human behaviour and interactions in society.
Human values include dignity, liberty, equality, justice, ethics, and morals.
These concepts have a substantial impact on how societies develop and govern themselves.

Etymology of 'right': The word 'right' originates from old English and has evolved through various nomenclatures across cultures.
Meaning of 'Right': The concept possesses both objective (just action that must be done) and subjective (entitlements and freedoms).
Analysis of 'Right': 'Right' entails the internal structure (form) and how rights function for who holds them (function).
Natural rights: Include basic freedoms, inherent by birth (life, liberty, and security), not dependent on any authority or law.
Legal rights: Defined by law, conferred by state, and can vary from country to country. Includes entitlements like education or freedom of speech.
Claim rights: Imposing a duty on others to respect the rights of the right-holder.
Liberty rights: To exercise a right without obligation on other people.
Positive and negative rights: Positive rights entail responsibilities to do good (e.g. education), while negative rights mean duty to not interfere with others rights (e.g. freedom of speech).
Individual and group rights: Encompass legal rights of an individual or for a group of people.
Universal rights: Apply equally to all people across the world, irrespective of ethnicity, religion, gender, etc.

Note on Legal Instruments: Agreements or treaties are the cornerstone of international relations, codifying international law.
Treaty: A written agreement between states, in general.
Bilateral Treaties: Agreements between two states.
Multilateral Treaties: Agreements between multiple states.
Convention and Covenant: Formal agreements setting standards.
Declaration: Policy statements, not legally binding.
Protocol: Additional agreements to an existing treaty.
Conference: Meetings of states to discuss and negotiate treaties or establish principles.
Resolutions: Decisions of the UN.
Charter and Statute: Legal documents outlining the structure and function of international organizations like UN or the International Criminal Court.
Executive orders: Specific actions by a government executive to implement international agreements.

Overview of the UN system: The structure and aims of the UN for peaceful relations.
Provisions of the UN Charter dealing with human rights: The UN Charter affirms respect for and the promotion of human rights.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights: The document outlines basic rights for all people, stemming from international law.
Significance of the UDHR: The declaration is important given its impact toward peaceful relations and global unity.
Analysis of the Declaration: The declaration's preamble and articles, including Article 1 (equality and dignity), Article 2 (no discrimination), Article 3 (life, liberty, and security), and other articles addressing specific rights.