Law Project Topics

The Concept of Fundamental Human Right

The Concept of Fundamental Human Right

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Chapter One of The Concept of Fundamental Human Right

INTRODUCTION

ย EVOLUTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN NIGERIA

ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Theย  issueย  of ย humanย  rightsย  hasย  beenย  oneย  ofย  theย  mostย  widelyย  debatedย  issuesย  throughoutย  theย  wordย  inย  theย  lastย  fiftyย  years.

Humanย  rightsย  evolutionย  inย  Nigeriaย  isย  traceableย  toย  beย  attemptย  byย  theย  Britishย  Governmentย ย  toย  calmย  theย  fearย  expressedย  byย  theย  countryย  ethnicย  minoritiesย  thatย  theย  majorityย  ethnicย  minoritiesย  thatย  theย  majorityย  ethnicย  groupย  inย  controlย  ofย  politicalย  powersย  wouldย  oppressย  themย  afterย  theย  terminationย  ofย  theย  Britishย  colonialย  governmentย  itย  wasย  thereforeย  theย  fearย  ofย  dominationย  ofย  minoritiesย  byย  theย  majoritiesย  thatย  ultimatelyย  ledย  toย  theย  adoptionย ย  ofย  theย ย Billย  ofย  rightย  inย  Nigeriaย  inย  itsย  independenceย  constitutionย  ofย  1960.

ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Successiveย  per-independenceย  constitutionalย  conferenceย  datingย  backย  toย  1953ย  haveย  oftenย  thenย  onlyย  fixย  onย  theย  inclusionย  ofย  certainย  fundamentalย  rightsย  inย  futureย  Nigeriaย  constitution.

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Thisย  agitationย  ledย  toย  theย  settingย  upย  ofย  aย ย Royalย  Commissionย  ofย  Enquiryย  in 1958.ย Theย  commissionย  investigatedย  andย  recommendedย  theย  incorporationย  ofย  theย  fundamentalย  Rightย  provisionsย  inย  theย  Nigeriaย  constitution.

Followingย  theย  reportย  ofย ย Sirย  Willinkย  ย ย ย  Commission,ย ย humanย  rightsย  wereย  entrenchedย  inย  theย ย chapterย  3ย  ofย  theย  1960ย  constitution1,ย  theย  followingย  areย  rightsย  recognizedย  inย  1960ย  andย  correspondingย  section.

  1. Rightย  toย  lifeย  andย  dignityย  ofย  humanย  person-sectionย  17
  2. Freedomย  fromย  inhumanย  treatment โ€“ sectionย  18
  3. Freedomย  fromย  salavaryย  andย  forcedย  labour โ€“ section 19
  4. Rightย  toย  personalย  liberty โ€“ sectionย  20
  5. Determinationย  ofย  rights โ€“ section 21
  6. Rightย  toย  privateย  life โ€“ sectionย  22
  7. Rightย  toย  freedomย  ofย  conscienceย  – sectionย  23
  8. Rightย  toย  peacefulย  assemblyย  andย  associationย  – secย  25
  9. Freedomย  ofย  movementย  – sectionย  26
  10. Freedomย  fromย  discriminationย  – sectionย  27
  11. Rightย  toย  compensationย  forย  compulsoryย  accusationย  ofย  property โ€“ sectionย  30

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  1. Chapter 3 (section 17 – 30) 1960 Constitution.

 

  1. Freedomย  ofย  expressionย  – sectionย  24

Theseย  rightsย  wereย  repeatedย  verbatimย  inย  theย  1963ย ย Republicanย  Constitutionย  ofย  Nigeriaย ย andย  withย  aย  littleย  variationย  forย  amplificationย  inย  theย  1979ย  andย  theย  1989ย  constitutionย  whichย  wasย  not adopted.

Thus,ย  in spiteย  ofย  theย  dramaticย  experienceย  ofย  theย  politicalย  crisisย  includingย  theย  periodย  ofย  theย  civilย  warย  ofย  1967 โ€“ 1970,ย  theย  rightsย  haveย  remainedย  theย  same.ย  Thatย  is,ย  theyย  haveย  notย  beenย  extinguishedย  byย  anyย  militaryย  orย  civilianย  Administration, but thatย  doesย  notย  meanย  that,ย  theyย  haveย  notย  beenย  assaultedย  orย  threatened.

Inย  recentย  timesย  thereย  haveย  beenย  certainย  Humanย  Rightsย  ofย  nonย  politicalย  natureย  whichย  areย  notย  necessarilyย  fundamentallyย  enshrinedย  inย  theย  constitution,ย  theyย  appearedย  firstย  inย  theย ย 1979ย  Constitution.ย  Exampleย  ofย  theseย  setsย  ofย  rightsย  areย  thoseย  toย ย Education,ย  toย  workย  andย  justย  remuneration,ย  theย  Rightย  toย  justย ย orย  favourableย  conditionย  ofย  work,ย  rightย  toย  protectionย  againstย  unemployment,ย  oldย  ageย  orย  disability.

Theseย  rightsย  areย  groupedย  underย  theย  headย ย fundamentalย  objectivesย  andย  directiveย  principlesย  ofย  stateย  policies.ย  Toย  aidย  ourย  understandingย  ofย  ourย  variousย  categoriesย  ofย  Human ย Rightย  toย  inย  Nigeria, the following classification is essential, these includes

PERSONAL RIGHTS

Theseย  includeย  theย  rightย  toย  lifeย  underย ย sectionย  33ย  ofย  theย  1999ย  constitution,ย  Rightย  toย  dignityย  ofย  humanย  personย  inย ย sectionย  34,ย  theย  rightย  toย  personalย  libertyย ย sectionย  35ย  ofย  theย  1999ย  constitutionย  andย  theย  rightย  toย  freedomย  ofย  movementย ย sectionย  41.

ย  POLITICALย  AND MORAL RIGHTS

Theย  constitutionย  declaresย  theย  entitlementย  ofย  everyย  individualย  toย  freedomย  ofย  expression,ย  includingย  theย  freedomย  toย  holdย  opinionย  andย  receiveย  andย  impactย  ideasย  andย  informationย  withoutย  interference,ย  associatedย  orย  closelyย  relatedย  toย  theย  politicalย  freedomย  ofย  expressionย ย sectionย  39,ย  freedomย  ofย  associationย  forย  assemblyย ย sectionย  40,ย  freedomย  ofย  conscienceย  andย  religionย ย sectionย  38.

ย PROPRIETARY RIGHTS

Theย  rightย  toย  propertyย  isย  givenย  substantial ย protectionย  inย  thatย  promptย  andย  adequateย  compensationย ย  mustย  beย  providedย  byย  anyย  lawย  whichย  gaveย  theย  powerย  toย  compulsoryย  acquireย  orย  takeย  possessionย  ofย  propertyย ย sectionย  44.ย  Alsoย  theย  rightย  toย  privacyย  ofย  correspondenceย  andย  telephoneย  conversationย  isย  expresslyย  guaranteedย ย  inย ย sectionย  37.ย  Thusย  personalย  andย  domesticย  privacyย  isย  protectedย  toย  supplementย  commonย  lawย  protectionย  derivedย  fromย  theย  lawย  ofย  trespass.

ย  ย PROCEDURALย  (DUE PROCESS)ย  RIGHTS

The principleย  ofย  fairย  hearingย  isย  wellย  developedย  atย  commonย  lawย  butย  this hasย  beenย  entrenchedย  inย  theย  constitutionย  inย  farย  greaterย  detailย  thanย  wereย  before,ย  itย  isย  declaredย ย  inย  sectionย  36ย  ofย  theย  1999ย  constitutionย  that in theย  determinationย  ofย  civilย  rightsย  andย  obligation,ย  aย  personย  shallย  beย  entitledย  toย  fairย  hearingย  withinย  aย  reasonableย  timeย  byย  aย  courtย  orย  otherย  tribunalย  establishedย  byย  theย  lawย  andย  constitutedย  inย  suchย  aย  mannerย  asย  toย  secureย  itsย  independenceย  andย  impartiality.

ย  ย EQUALITY RIGHT

Itย  emphasisย  onย  theย  rightย  ofย  freedomย  fromย  discriminationย ย Section 42ย  ofย  theย  1999ย  constitution,ย  prohibitsย  discriminationย  amongย  citizens on theย  basesย  ofย  sex,ย  age,ย  religionย  race,ย  nationalityย  etc.ย  Itย  alsoย  intendsย  toย  protectย  childrenย  bornย  outsideย  wedlock.

 

ENVIRONMENTALย  RIGHTS

Theย  rightย  appearedย  inย  theย  1999ย  constitutionย  underย  theย  fundamentalย  objectivesย  andย  directiveย  principleย  ofย  stateย  policyย  whichย  isย  notย  enforced,ย  (sectionย  20ย  ofย  theย  sameย  constitution).ย  Thisย  policyย  cannotย  be divorcedย  becauseย  ofย  itsย  importanceย  to theย  rightย  toย  lifeย  andย  survival.ย  Hence,ย  withoutย  cleanย  toย  uncontaminatedย  water the environment will not be a healthy for one to work in.

ย WHAT IS A RIGHT

Aย  rightย  isย  theย  sovereigntyย  toย  actย  withoutย  theย  permissionย  ofย  others.ย  Theย  conceptย  ofย  aย  rightย  carriesย  withย  itย  anย  implicit,ย  unstatedย  footnoteย  youย  mayย  exerciseย  yourย  rightsย  asย  longย  asย  youย  doย  notย  violateย  theย  sameย  rightsย  ofย  another.ย ย  Within ย thisย  context,ย  rightsย  areย  notย  absolute.

Accordingย  toย  theย  9thย  editionย  ofย  theย  blackโ€™sย  lawย  dictionary2.ย  โ€œAย  rightย  isย  thatย  whichย  isย  properย  underย  law,ย  moralityย  orย  ethnicsย  (knowย  rightย  fromย  wrong).ย  Somethingย  thatย  isย  dueย  toย  aย  personย  byย  justย  claim,ย  legalย  guarantee,ย  orย  moralย  principle.

Accordingย  toย  theย  Osbornโ€™sย  10thย  Concise Lawย  Dictionary3,ย  โ€œa

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  1. The 9th edition of the blackโ€™s law dictionary. p. 9 1436.
  2. The 10th edition of Osbornโ€™s concise law dictionary. P 9 356

 

rightย  isย  anย  interest recognizedย  andย  protectedย ย  byย  theย  law,ย  respectย  for,ย  whichย  isย  aย  dutyย  andย  disregardย  ofย  whichย  isย  aย  wrongย  (salmond).ย  Aย  capacityย ย  residingย  inย  oneย  man ย ofย  controlling,ย  withย  theย  assentย  andย  assistanceย  ofย  theย  state,ย  theย  actionsย  ofย  others.

Rightsย  areย  concernedย  withย  interests,ย  andย  indeedย  haveย  beenย  definedย  asย  interestsย  protectedย  byย  rulesย  ofย  rights,ย  thatย  isย  byย  moralย  orย  legal ย rules.ย  Yetย  rightsย  andย  interestย  areย  notย  identical.ย  Interestsย  are thingsย  whichย  areย  toย  aย  manโ€™sย  advantageย  heย  hasย  anย  interestย  inย  hisย  freedomย  orย  hisย  reputation.ย  Hisย  rightsย  areย  these,ย  ifย  heย  hasย  suchย  rightsย  protectย  ofย  interests,ย  whichย  accordinglyย  fromย  theย  subjectย  ofย  hisย  rightsย  butย  areย  differentย ย  fromย  them.

Aย  rightย  mustย  beย  exercisedย  throughย  ownย  initiativeย  andย  action.ย  Itย  isย  notย  aย  claimย  onย  others.ย  Thisย  meansย  youย  doย  notย  haveย  theย  rightย  toย  the ย timeย  inย  anotherย  personโ€™sย  life.ย  Youย  doย  notย  haveย  aย  rightย  toย  anotherย  personโ€™sย  property.

ย 

WHATย  ARE ย HUMAN ย RIGHTS

Humanย  rightsย  areย  rightsย  inherentย  toย  allย  humanย  beings,ย  whateverย  ourย  nationality,ย  placeย  ofย  residence,ย  sex, ethnicย  group,ย  colour,ย  religion,ย  language,ย  orย  anyย  otherย  status,ย  weย  areย  allย  equallyย  entitledย  toย  ourย  humanย  rightsย  withoutย  discrimination.ย  Theseย  rightย  areย  allย  interrelated,ย  interdependentย  andย  indivisible.

Universalย  humanย  rightsย  areย  oftenย  expressedย  andย  guaranteedย  byย  law,ย  inย  theย  formsย  ofย  treaties,ย  customary,ย  internationalย  lawย  generalย  principlesย  andย  otherย  sourcesย  ofย  internationalย  humanย  rightsย  lawย  laysย  downย  obligationsย  ofย  Governmentsย  toย  actย  inย  orderย  toย  promoteย  andย  protectย  humanย  rightsย  andย  fundamentalย  freedomsย  ofย  individualย  orย  groups.

(a.)ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Universalย  andย  Inalienableย  Humanย  Rightsย ย ย ย ย ย 

Theย  principleย  ofย  universalityย  ofย  humanย  rightsย  isย  theย  cornerstoneย  ofย  internationalย  humanย  rightsย  ย law.

Thisย  principle,ย  asย  firstย ย  emphasizedย  inย  theย  universalย  Declarationย  onย  humanย  rightย  inย  1948,ย  hasย  beenย  reiteratedย  inย  numerousย  internationalย  humanย  rightsย  conventions,ย  declarations,ย  andย  resolution.ย  Theย  1993ย  viennaย  worldย  conferenceย  onย  Humanย  rights,ย  forย  example,ย  notedย  thatย  it isย  theย  dutyย  ofย  statesย  toย  promoteย  andย  protectย  allย  humanย  rightsย  andย  fundamentalย  freedoms,ย  regardlessย  ofย  theirย  political,ย  economicย  andย  culturalย  systems.ย  Allย  statesย  haveย  ratifiedย  atย  one,ย  andย  80%ย  ofย  haveย  ratifiedย  fourย  orย  more,ย  ofย  theย  coreย  humanย  rightsย  treaties,ย  reflectingย  consentย  ofย  statesย  whichย  createsย  expressionย  toย  universality.ย  Someย  fundamentalย  humanย  rightsย  enjoyย  universalย  protectionย  byย  customaryย  inย  internationalย  lawsย  acrossย  allย  boundariesย  andย  civilizations.

Humanย  Rightsย  areย ย  inalienable.ย  Theyย  shouldย  notย  beย  takenย  away.ย  Exceptย  inย  specificย  situationย  andย  accordingย  toย  dueย  processย  for n forย  example,ย  theย  rightย  toย ย  libertyย  mayย  beย  restrictedย  ifย  aย  personย  isย  foundย  guiltyย  ofย  aย  crimeย  byย  aย  courtย  ofย  law.

(b)ย ย ย ย  Interdependentย  andย  indivisibleย  humanย  right

Allย  humanย  rightsย  areย  indivisible,ย  whetherย  theyย  areย  civilย  andย  politicalย  rights,ย  suchย  asย  theย  rightย  toย  life,ย  equalityย  beforeย  theย  lawย  freedomย  ofย  expression,ย  economic,ย  socialย  andย  culturalย  rights,ย  suchย  asย  rightsย  toย  work,ย  socialย  securityย  andย  education,ย  orย  collectiveย  rights,ย  suchย  asย  theย  rightsย  toย  developmentย  andย  self-determination,ย  areย  indivisible,ย  interrelatedย  andย  interdependent.ย  Theย  improvementย  ofย  oneย  rightย  facilitatesย  advancementย  ofย  theย  others.ย  Likewise,ย  theย  deprivationย  ofย  oneย  rightย  adverselyย  affectsย  theย  others.

 

 

(c)ย ย ย ย  Equalย  andย ย  non-discriminatoryย  humanย  right

Non-discriminationย  isย  aย  cross-cuttingย  principleย  inย  internationalย  humanย  rightsย  law.ย  Theย  principleย  isย  presentย  inย  allย ย  theย  majorย  humanย  rightsย  treatiesย  andย  providesย  theย  centralย  themeย  ofย  someย  ofย  internationalย  humanย  rightsย  conventionsย  suchย  asย  theย  internationalย  conventionย  onย  theย  eliminationย  ofย  allย  formsย  ofย  Racialย  discriminationย  andย  theย  conventionย  onย  theย  Eliminationย  ofย  allย  formsย  ofย  Discriminationย  againstย  women.

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