Civil rights: (sometimes known as civil liberties); a category of rights and freedoms that protect individuals from unwarranted government action and ensure their ability to participate in the civil life of the state without discrimination or repression.

Customary international law: practice that is recognised in law on the basis of custom and tradition. In order to become customary international law a practice has to fulfil two elements: uniform and consistent state practice over time and the belief that such practice is obligatory (opinio juris). It is an important and useful source of international law because it binds all nations, whether or not they have consented to a treaty.

Empowerment: increasing the spiritual, political, social, or economic strength of individuals and communities. It is used in relation to giving marginalised individuals and groups the ability claim their rights to participate fully in society through, for instance, legislation, affirmative action and training.

First-generation rights: the rights which were generally accepted as human rights in the 17th-18th Centuries. They include all civil and political human rights such as the right to vote, right to life and liberty, and freedoms of expression, religion, and assembly. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) principally codifies these rights. Because the term suggests a hierarchy of civil and political rights over second generation rights, or economic and social rights, it is increasingly falling from use.

Humanitarian law: the body of law, mainly based on the Geneva Conventions, that protects certain persons in times of armed conflict, helps victims and limits the methods and means of combat in order to minimize destruction, loss of life and unnecessary human suffering.

Indivisible: refers to the importance of seeing all human rights as part of an undividable and inseparable whole. A person cannot be denied a particular human right on the grounds that it is “less important” than another or “non-essential”.

Interdependent: refers to the idea that enjoyment of a particular human right is dependent on enjoyment of all the others. For example, your ability to participate in your government is directly affected by your right to express yourself, your health, freedom of movement, and an absence of discrimination.

State/Provincial sovereignty: the idea that a government has the ultimate legal right to determine what is done within its jurisdiction. International human rights documents set certain limitations to sovereignty, as does membership of international bodies.

Universality: The principle that all human rights are held by all persons in all states and societies in the world.

• The idea of Human Rights is that each one of us is entitled to the same basic rights and freedoms. They are not privileges and cannot be granted or revoked.

• One of the most modern affirmations of universal human rights emerged from the ruins of World War II with the creation of the United Nations. The treaty that established the UN gives as one of its purposes, to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights.

• In 1948, the UN Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human rights. This document lays the basis for modern international human rights law. The declaration is based on the principle that all all human being are born free and equal in dignity and rights.

• The declaration lists 30 articles recognizing, among other things, the principle of nondiscrimination and the right to life and liberty. It refers to negative freedoms, as well as positive freedoms. It encompasses basic civil and political rights, as well as social, economic, and cultural rights. The declaration takes no side as to which rights are more important, insisting on their universality, indivisibility, and interdependence.

• It is not easy to universally enforce these rights or to punish transgressors. The UDHR itself is a declaration, not a hard law. So when individual countries violate it, the mechanisms to address those violations are weak.

• Critics also question the universality of human rights and emphasize that their development has been heavily guided by a small number of mostly Western nations to the detriment of inclusiveness.

• A general bias in favour of civil political liberties over socio political rights, and of individual over collective or group rights.

• Human rights law is constantly evolving as our views and definitions of what the basic human rights should be.

The Adult Guardianship Act permits organizations, including the health agencies, to give emergency assistance to adults who seem incapable of giving or refusing consent for aid.

Govender states “While the intent of protecting vulnerable adults is laudable and important, transparency about how agencies are exercising these powers is vital for upholding the rule of law and ensuring accountability to human rights standards.” The statement says Govender will issue recommendations for compliance if the inquiry finds the Adult Guardianship Act violates human rights law or principles.

It is important to respect every individual, regardless of their gender, race, sexual orientation, opinions, etc. Equality needs to be talked about more in law.

It is also to be noted that there are a wide variety of different types of human rights. Economic, social and cultural rights, civil and political rights.

Negligence about this global issue can lead to issues such as:

• Can lead to opportunities for the society to create a strong hatred towards certain communities because of violation of human rights.

• Can lead to personal injury, property injury or economic loss.

• Can shut down people and cause them to loose their voice in the world and the ability to bring up the problems they are facing.

• Can lead to torture and promote violence in the world.

I think this topic needs to be brought up more commonly among the population. Especially with how fast our world is developing now.