Human rights are a set of fundamental rights that every single person has. It doesn’t matter who we are or where we were born. We all have the same right to a life of equality, dignity, and respect. Human rights are protected by a set of international and Canadian laws. These laws outline our rights and responsibilities to each other.
International Laws
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) Universal Declaration of Human Rights United Nations is an important document in the history of human rights. The Declaration was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris, in December 1948. It sets out 30 universal human rights that we are all entitled to as humans. Some of these rights include:
- the right to life and liberty,
- freedom from slavery and torture,
- freedom of opinion and expression,
- the right to work and education,
- the right to equality and dignity,
- and to live free from all forms of discrimination.
Canadian Laws
The Charter of Rights and Freedoms also protects our human rights in Canada. It forms part of Canada’s Constitution – the highest law in the country. The Charter ensures that we are all treated equally under the law. It protects rights like the right to vote, to equality and to freedom of expression. The Charter only applies to the laws, policies or actions of governments.
Human rights are also protected by other federal, provincial, and territorial laws. These laws set up statutory human rights agencies. This means that they are governed by specific pieces of law that place limits on what they can or cannot do.
The Canadian Human Rights Act protects people in Canada from discrimination and/or harassment when they are employed by or receive services from the federal government, First Nations governments, or private companies that are regulated by the federal government such as banks, trucking companies, broadcasters and telecommunications companies.
The Newfoundland and Labrador Human Rights Act recognizes the inherent dignity and worth of every person in the province. The Act is very important and is considered “quasi-constitutional.” This means that it takes precedence over other provincial laws where there is a conflict.