Human rights
Every one of us knows that there are human rights. But do we know what they are? What is the idea behind these principles? And, finally, what rights does a human being have?
Let's try to understand.
The idea is to create a just and equal society where everyone has the opportunity to live and develop freely without fear of suppression or discrimination, including by another person or the state.
Human rights cannot be bestowed; everyone acquires them by virtue of birth.
On 10 December 1948, the UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
This was a historic event and declared the world's recognition and respect for human rights as universal, indivisible and inalienable.
The Declaration is based on the fundamental principle that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.
It includes 30 articles outlining basic human rights: the right to life and liberty, including freedom of thought, conscience and belief; the right to work, rest and leisure; the right to participate in the government of one's country; and the right to education.
Discrimination, slavery and the slave trade, torture and ill-treatment, arbitrary arrest and detention, interference with privacy and attacks on honour and reputation are all prohibited by the Declaration.
The institution of ombudsmen dates back to the late eighteenth century, when Sweden first appointed an ombudsman. Since then, many countries have introduced such institutions to protect the rights of citizens from possible violations by state bodies and institutions.
In Kazakhstan, the national human rights institution is the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman).
The main function of the Ombudsman is to promote the protection of human rights.
The idea of establishing an ombudsman institution in Kazakhstan was first voiced in January 1995 at an international seminar in Geneva organised by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
On 19 September 2002, the institution of the Commissioner for Human Rights was established by Presidential Decree.
On 5 November 2022, the Head of State signed the Constitutional Act on the Commissioner for Human Rights. It sets out, inter alia, the status, powers and guarantees of independence of the Commissioner.
In conducting his or her activities, the Ombudsman is guided by the principles of legality, justice, impartiality, objectivity, publicity, openness, transparency and other principles enshrined in article 2 of the Constitutional Act.
Its tasks include facilitating the restoration of violated human and civil rights and freedoms and promoting human and civil rights and freedoms.
Today (2024) the Commissioner for Human Rights is Artur Lastaev.
It is important to understand that the Commissioner doesn't resolve conflicts himself, but when human rights are violated, he has the right to study the situation, make recommendations to the competent authorities, and monitor their implementation, thus contributing to the restoration and protection of the rights of the affected party.
In the modern world, the field of human rights is becoming increasingly important and dynamic. The development of this area is linked to challenges and changes in society, technology and even geopolitics.
With increasing globalisation, new scenarios of interaction are emerging and the field of human rights must take into account new challenges and opportunities, including technological advances such as the internet and social media, in order to effectively use and respond to them.
While on the one hand they promote freedom of expression and the right of access to information, on the other hand they raise issues of privacy and protection of personal data, as well as responsibility for the public dissemination of opinions.
The development of human rights in today's world requires constant adaptation. It is a challenge that holds the potential to create a more just and humane society where the rights of every individual are protected and respected.
It is important to continue the dialogue between society and the state, the exchange of experience and the implementation of best practices to strengthen human rights in an era of constant change.