RESPONSIBILITIES OF INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS IN THE UDHR 1948

CONTENT

1. Background to the Adoption of the UDHR
2. Roles of Individuals in the UDHR
3. Roles of Groups in the UDHR
4. Roles of Government in the UDHR

Background to the Adoption of the UDHR

Currently, a total of 192 member nations belong to the United Nations (UN). This is a great improvement on the number of countries which were members of the body when the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted in 1948, being a paltry 58. This led to an increase in awareness of our human rights.

There are also things various individuals, groups and governments can do to ensure that the Articles of the UDHR are realized.

Roles of Individuals in the UDHR

1. Individuals are to study and know their fundamental human rights and the articles of the UDHR.
2. Individuals who are familiar with their rights should help teach others.
3. The mass media can help in creating awareness about the UDHR.
4. We can equally establish human rights groups in our states, neighborhoods, schools and work places.
5. We can also report cases of human rights abuses to the police, Public Complaints Commission and other human rights organizations.
6. We must serve as good examples to others.

Roles of Groups in the UDHR

1. They can help in protecting the rights of citizens. This can be in the form of NGOs.
2. Groups can channel advocacy through the mass media.
3. Groups can employ the use of demonstration to speak against abuses in government  and other forms of abuses.
4. Groups can organize a forum from time to time and educate people on human rights.

Roles of Government in the UDHR

1. The government should enact laws that will protect and ensure that human rights and freedom of individual s are maintained.
2. Government can play another good role in the UDHR by establishing and funding agencies such as (the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and the Legal Aid Council.
3. Government should ensure the independence of the judiciary.
4. Government should also ensure that freedom of the press is guaranteed
5. Government can also check the excesses of overzealous security operatives
6. Government should tackle poverty and hunger so that people do not die of starvation.

EVALUATION

1. State five (5) roles of individuals in the UDHR.
2. State five (5) roles of groups in the UDHR.
3. State five (5) roles of the government in the UDHR.