Reading 1: This text deals with the establishment of human rights law.

 

Task 2. Read the passage Origins of Human Rights Law and decide which document was the first universal expression of human rights applied to all citizens?

Task 3. Read the passage League of Nations and decide what was the major set back this organisation has finally suffered?

Reading Comprehension

 

Task 4. Read the whole text and decide whether these statements are true (T) or false (F).

1. The awareness of human rights first came to people in 1789 as the result of French Revolution.

2. The 20th century wars caused the international legal recognition of the human rights issue.

3. The major task of the League of Nations was to preserve international peace.  

4. A covenant is the pledge that brings about a relationship of commitment between its members.

5. The United Nations Charter symbolizes the outspoken recognition of the international idea of human rights law.

 

Origins of Human Rights Law: Elements of human rights seem to be recognized in the English law long ago. The Magna Carta (1215) and the Bill of Rights (1688) are often said to enshrine human rights, but both deal little with the rights of ordinary people. They are primarily contracts between the King and the barons (Magna Carta) or the House of Commons (the Bill of Rights). Nevertheless, they were significant in the developing recognition of human rights because they gave some limited rights to particular individuals against the sovereign. From the 17th to 19th centuries various treaties between countries, and declarations within countries, guaranteed the right of non-discrimination for people according to their religion.

The French Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen of 1789 arose out of the French Revolution. It is a much fuller expression of human rights than is found in English law. The Declaration, and the ‘Bill of Rights’ amendments to the United States Constitution in the 1790s, are the first expressions in law of rights which are universal in their application to all citizens, not limited to the aristocracy or Members of Parliament.

Recognition of human rights on an international scale came from the two major wars of the 20th century. Trench warfare and the use of gas in   World War I provoked a desire among nations to regulate weapons permissible in war. The Paris Peace Conference in 1919 had significance for the development of human rights in the 20th century through three outcomes.

League of Nations: The first outcome was the establishment in 1920 of the League of Nations, which took responsibility for maintaining international peace. By mutual agreement (a Covenant), members of the League undertook to promote fair working conditions for their citizens, and humane treatment for indigenous peoples in colonized countries. The League supervised the distribution of former German colonies as trust territories, having regard to the rights of the indigenous people. Most importantly perhaps, the League of Nations initiated the Slavery Convention 1926, to abolish slavery. As a lasting human rights achievement, the League of Nations was compromised at the outset by the refusal of some founding members to include in the Covenant a commitment to non-discrimination on the basis of race. Despite this, and its ultimate failure to avoid another World War, the League of Nations was a brave experiment which laid the groundwork for the establishment of the United Nations in 1945.

The United Nations Charter: The events of World War II, particularly the Holocaust, led directly to the establishment of the United Nations, and the modern era of explicit recognition of and commitment to international human rights. When the United Nations Organisation was established in 1945, its Charter contained the first explicit recognition in international law that an individual was entitled to fundamental rights and freedoms. Among the purposes of the UN set out in Article 1 of the Charter is that of co-operation ‘in promoting respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all’. Article 55 commits the United Nations to promoting ‘universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion’. Article 56 provides that all members ‘pledge themselves to take joint and several action in co-operation with the Organisation for the achievement of the purposes set forth in Article 55’. The Charter specifies that the UN should not impose any restrictions on the eligibility of people to participate in the international community, and gives the General Assembly of the UN responsibilities which include assisting the realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all. Through the Charter, nations that become members of the United Nations commit themselves to its framework of human rights.

 

Task 5. Match the verbs (1–5) with the nouns (a–e) they collocate with in the text.

 

1. to enshrine	a) distribution
2. to provoke	b) restrictions
3. to supervise	c) human rights
4. to abolish	d) desire
5. to impose	e) slavery

 

Task 6. Match these terms with their definitions.

 

7. contract	a) a formal written agreement between people or groups of people which is recognized in law
8. covenant	b) a written or spoken agreement, that is intended to be enforceable by law
9. treaty	c) a large group of people who meet regularly to make decisions or laws for a particular region or country
10. assembly	d) a formally concluded and ratified agreement between countries
11. charter	e) an official announcement or statement
12. declaration	f) a formal document describing the rights, aims, or principles of an organisation or group of people

 

Task 7. Circle the correct equivalent of the italicized word.

 

1. Elements of human rights seem to be recognized (acknowledged / influenced / seized) in the English law long ago.

2. These were significant (meaningful / recommendatory / suggestible) changes in the developing of recognition of human rights as they gave some limited rights to particular individuals.

3. The Magna Carta and the Bill of Rights are often said to enshrine (to accommodate / to deify / to ensure) human rights, but both deal little with the rights of ordinary people.

4. The first outcome was the establishment of the League of Nations, which took responsibility for maintaining (creating/ improving / upholding) international peace.

5. By mutual (reciprocal / tacit / unilateral) agreement, members of the League undertook to promote fair working conditions for their citizens.

6. The League supervised (controlled/ intervened / mediated) the distribution of former German colonies.

7. the League promoted fair working conditions and humane treatment for indigenous (inborn / primitive / rural) peoples in colonized countries.

8. The League of Nations initiated the Slavery Convention 1926, to abolish (to disperse / to disseminate / to liquidate) slavery.

9. Its ultimate (accidental / decisive / specific) failure was to avoid World War II.

10. The events of World War II led directly to the modern era of explicit (bright / clear / radiant) recognition of international human rights.

11. Article 56 provides that all members ‘pledge (identify / insure / promise) themselves to take joint and several action in co-operation with the Organisation for the achievement of the purposes set forth in Article 55’.

12. The Charter specifies that the UN should not impose (drift / draw / inflict) any restrictions on the eligibility of people to participate in the international community.

 

Task 8. Find in the text above the English equivalents for the following expressions.

1. визнання прав людини	a) respect of/for human rights
2. вираження прав людини	b) origins of human rights
3. відданість правам людини	c) human rights achievement
4. втілення прав людини	d) framework of human rights
5. досягнення прав людини	e) commitment to human rights
6. дотримання прав людини	f) to enshrine human rights
7. елементи прав людини	g) development of human rights
8. зберігати права людини	h) observance of human rights
9. основні положення прав людини	i) realization of human rights
10. повага до прав людини	j) recognition of human rights
11. походження прав людини	k) expression of human rights
12. розвиток прав людини	l) elements of human rights

Task 9. Read the article about human rights of indigenous people.

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