Text 2. Protection of the rights of children

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In general, the welfare of children is the biggest concern of family law. Virtually all societies, and certainly all legal systems, treat children differently from adults.

There are special courts to deal with young people who commit crimes. In economically developed countries, there are limits on the type and amount of work a child is allowed to do. There are age limits on the rights and duties of citizens; however, these vary from country to country.

A Japanese may not vote until he is twenty, but a German may vote at eighteen. A Briton may marry at sixteen with his parents’ consent, or at eighteen without it; a French girl may marry at fourteen, but a boy must wait until he is sixteen. In some parts of the United States you may drive a car at fifteen, but in others, not until eighteen. It is interesting that in many places a person may be sentenced to death at an age when he is not allowed to vote. Parents have a duty to make decisions, for example those concerning education, on behalf of their children. When parents are dead or absent, a legal guardian is appointed to make these decisions.

Sometimes this is an adoptive parent – a person who legally adopts the child as his or her own and has all the rights and duties of a natural parent. Sometimes, it is a local authority, as in the case of children who have been taken into care because their parents are ill, in prison or unable to take care of them.

Exercise 8. Ask questions to your partner.

1) Ask your friend what spheres of life human rights cover.

2) Ask your friend how many articles the Declaration of Human Rights consists of.

3) Ask your friend when the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted.

4) Ask your friend how human rights can be defined.

5) Ask your friend what rights the Universal Declaration of Human Rights focuses on in the area of economic, social and cultural rights.

Exercise 9. Put 5 questions to the text in your exercise-books.

(7 мин.)

Exercise 10. Name the word or word-combination in English corresponding to the lexical definitions:

Declaration, right, liberty, servitude, conscience, force

1. The influence or powerful effect that someone has.

2. The ideas and principles of moral behavior that the members of a community or group share.

3. The position of someone who is a slave or someone who is completely controlled by another person.

4. A particular kind of freedom, especially the one that you have a legal right to.

5. Something that you are morally or legally allowed to do or have.

Exercise 11. Choose the right form of the verb given in the brackets.

1. The Universal Declaration together with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (constitute / are constituted) the International Bill of Human Rights.

2. Human rights can be (deﬁ ned / define) as the sum of individual and collective rights (recognize /recognized) by sovereign States and (enshrined / enshrine) in their constitutions and in international law.

3. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights ( focuses / is focused) on right to work, right to an adequate standard of living, right to just and favourable conditions of work and other rights.

4. It means that no person may ( be divested / divest ) of his or her human rights.

5. A person’s right to liberty may (be restricted / restrict) if he or she is found guiltyof a crime by a court of law.

Exercise 12. Translate the word combinations from English into Russian.

a) the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;	f) adequate standard of living;
b) be of great importance;	g) inalienable;
c) recognized by sovereignStates;	h) just and favorable conditions of work;
d) cover all aspects of life;	i) freedom of thought, conscience and religion;
e) freedom of movement;	j) be adopted

Exercise 13. Translate the sentences from Russian into English.

1) Всеобщая декларация прав человека была принята 10 декабря 1948 года в Париже. 2) Декларация состоит из 30 статей. 3) Права человека – это совокупность личных и коллективных прав, признанных суверенными государствами. 4) Международный пакт об экономических, социальных и культурных правах включает следующие права: право на труд, достойный уровень жизни, право на справедливые и благоприятные условия труда. 5) К основным правам человека в сфере политических и гражданских прав относятся право на жизнь, передвижение, свобода мысли, вероисповедания и совести и другие.

Exercise 14. Form questions (to the underlined word of the sentence) and negatives from the following statements.

1) The Declaration of Human Rights was adopted in 1948.

2) The main objective of the Declaration of Human Rights was to codify human rights and liberties at international level.

3) The articles of the Declaration are elaborated in subsequent international treaties, regional human rights instruments, national constitutions, and other laws.

4) The Universal Declaration of Human Rights focuses on right to work, right to an adequate standard of living, right to just and favorable conditions of work and others.

5) Such rights as right to life, freedom fromslavery, servitude andforced labour, freedom from torture, freedom of movement, freedom of thought, conscience and religion, right to privacy are of great importance in the Declaration of Human Rights.

Exercise 15. Make up the summary of the text «Human Rights Protection in a Democratic Society» according to the model:

1) The title of the text is …. 2) This text informs us on ….

3) It is necessary to point out that …. 4) In conclusion I'd like to say that …

Exercise 16. Find the actual error in each sentence. Make a correct statement.

a) The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1958.

b) Human rights can be deﬁ ned as the sum of only individual rights recognized by sovereignStates.

c) Such rights as right to life, freedom fromslavery, servitude andforced labour belong to the area of economic, social and cultural rights.

d) The Universal Declaration of Human Rights focuses on right to work, right to an adequate standard of living, right to just and favourable conditions of work, right to form and join any unions, except trade ones.

e) From a legal standpoint, human rights are enshrined only in the constitutions of the countries.

f) A person’s right to liberty may never be restricted.

Exercise 17. Read the sentences about human rights in different countries using the dictionary and translate them into Russian.

1. How long can a police hold a suspect before they must bring him before a court of law? – Twenty-four hours in Norway, 3 days or sometimes longer in Finland, up to 48 hours officially in Russia.

2. Can the police search a private house without first obtaining a court warrant? – It is regularly done in Paraguay and occasionally happens in Argentina and Peru.

3. Are trials open to the public? - As for African countries, yes in Botswana and Tanzania, often not in Nigeria and Zaire.

4. The British laws are considered to be more restrictive than in most European countries. For example, the Public Order Act requires advance notice of peaceful protests, even if they don’t obstruct other people in any way.

5. According to Air Code of the Russian Federation, most of the tickets bought in advance, can be returned not later than a day before the flight. But on the 21^st of June 2014 several amendments will be made, concerning “unrecoverable” tickets which will be much cheaper.

6. German people are prohibited to do vacuum-cleaning or make any other noise from 12 to 16.

7. In many Islamic countries fathers, brothers and sons are allowed considerable authority over the females in their families.

8. In Ireland, which is strongly influenced by the doctrines of the Catholic church, divorce remains illegal.

9. In some parts of the United States you may drive a car at fifteen, but in others, not until eighteen.

10. A French girl may marry at 14, but a boy must wait until he is 16.

Exercise 18. Read the articles from the Declaration.

Vocabulary

equal	равный
dignity	достоинство
detention	задержание
exile	ссылка, изгнание
reasonable	разумный

a) All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. (Article 1)

b) Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. (Article 2)

c) No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms. (Article 4)

d) No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile. (Article 9)

e) Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country. (Article 13, Part 2)

f) Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression. (Article 19)

g) Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. (Article 16)

h) Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay. (Article 24)

Exercise 19. State which articles have been violated referring to the text of the Declaration. Suggest all the possible ways of solving some problem situations.

1. The person was prohibited to leave his own country because of the accumulated fines.
2. Several slaves were kept in miserable conditions without food and drink.
3. A negro was not allowed by his church to marry a Russian girl.
4. Equal suffrage was violated.
5. The person was deprived of his periodic holiday with pay.
6. The family was deprived of all her possessions within a couple of days due to non-paid debts.
7. The person was not allowed to work in the government service because of the colour of his skin.
8.During the Ukrainian power division several innocent young people were ruthlessly shot.

Exercise 20. Read the statements about different violations of human rights, translate them into Russian and ask all possible questions.

1. During the Ukrainian power division several innocent young people were ruthlessly shot.

2. The members of one of the high ranking Moscow football clubs haven’t been paid for 3 months.

3. During Hitler’s regime in Germany, Paul Pot’s–in Cambodia, Pinochet’s reigning in Chili anyone going home from work late at night could be arrested, sent to prison and tortured to death there.

4. Imagine, your mail box was broken and your secret letters were read and information went widespread.

5. The Swiss girl was grounded at home by her mother for awful behavior without food and drink for 3 days.

Exercise 21. Test

1. When was the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted?	a) 1934 b) 1848 c) 1948 d) 1947
2. Human rights are…..	a) the sum of individual and collective rights recognized by sovereignStates and enshrined in their constitutions and in international law; b) the sum of individual and collective rights recognized by sovereignStates but not enshrined in any particular document; c) any person’s collective rights; d) the same as freedoms and liberties of a person.
3. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights consists of… articles.	a) 13 b) 25 c) 30 d) 45
4. A person’s right to liberty may be restricted when…	a) he leaves his country; b) he is found guilty; c) he is subjected to torture; d) he is in another country.
5. The main objective of the Declaration of Human Rights was….	a) to codify human rights at international level; b) to enumerate freedoms a person can have in the state; c) to clear up some shady points; d) to inform people about their rights.

Unit 2. The Russian police

Grammar. Passive Voice

Text 1. Russian Police

Text 2. The Law on police

Exercise 1. Read the text and do the exercises below:

Text 1. Russian Police

Vocabulary

to come into force	войти в силу, вступить в силу
to establish	учреждать, организовывать
public agency	государственная служба, общественный орган
to defend	защищать
property	собственность
society	общество
unlawful infringements	незаконные посягательства
to concern	заниматься
concerned	обеспокоенный
keeping	хранение
order	порядок, приказ
perform	выполнять, исполнять

In 1715 Peter I established the public security service in Russia. This service was named the Police.

After the October Revolution November 10, 1917 the labour police was established.

February 2, 2011 the Law on Police was adopted. In March 1, 2011 the Federal Law on the police came into force. According to this law Russian militia established in 1917 was reformed into the Police. The Police form a part of the structure of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The Police are a public agency, a part of the executive branch of government. Their tasks are protecting life, physical health, rights and freedoms of citizens; defending property and the interests of the state and society from criminal and other unlawful infringements. It is also concerned with the keeping of public order. The Police are authorized to use force to perform their functions.

The Police have the task of prevention, suppression, and exposure of criminal offences. Its duties are to reveal and solve crime, to provide traffic safety, to ensure the personal security of citizens and the public security. It also organizes detection of people escaping the organs of inquiry. The Police handle investigation of missing people and of other persons as the law prescribes.

Divisions of the police are:

· criminal investigation division

· public order maintenance division

· unit combating economic crimes and corruption

· operation and search section

· the State Road Safety Inspection

· criminalists division

· internal security division

· juveniles inspections

· division for the fight against extremism

· special task police units (OMON)

· permanent inspector service division and others.

Activities of the Police are based on the Russian Constitution, Federal Law of the Police and principles of the International Law. The police divisions work separately and independently but provide assistance to each other when it is necessary.

Exercise 2. Find new words in the chain.

streetpolicestructurelawtaskforceestablishmentstudentsocietypolitylifecitizenordergovernmenthealthstudystoreyperform

Exercise 3. Translate the word combinations:

came into force, reformed into the Police, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, interests of the state and society, rights and freedoms of citizens, executive branch of government, a public agency, the Federal Law on the police, keeping of the public order, according to this law,

Exercise 4. Read the words taking into account the word-building elements.

1) Protection - защита, prevention - предупреждение, detection - выявление, solution – раскрытие, implementation - производство (по делам), execution – исполнение, legislation - законодательство;

2) Performance – производство (дознания), maintenance – обеспечение, (поддержание), observance – соблюдение;

3) Society – общество, penalty – наказание, safety – безопасность, security – охрана, property – собственность, facility – объект, party – зд. участник, activity – деятельность/

Exercise 5. Read the sentences from the text. Decide whether each sentence is true, false or not stated in the given text.

This sentence is