Democratic Rights Test - 1

Amnesty International is an organisation that works to protect human rights with over 1.8 million members in over 150 countries and territories across the globe. It prides itself on being non-partial to government, religion or economics.

The right to property is not a Fundamental Right but it is a constitutional right. In the original Constitution, the right to property was listed as a fundamental right. By the 44^th Amendment to the Constitution, the right to property was removed as a fundamental right and instead, a new provision was added to the Constitution i.e. Article 300-A making it a constitutional right.

The right to freedom guarantees freedom for citizens to live a life of dignity among other things. These are given in Articles 19, 20, 21, 21A and 22 of the Indian Constitution.
Article 19 includes freedom of speech and expression, assembly, association, movement, residence and profession.
Article 20 includes protection with respect to conviction for offences.
Article 21 includes right to life and personal liberty.
Article 21A includes right to elementary education.
Article 22 includes protection against arrest and detention in certain case.

Untouchability in simple terms can be understood as a practice whereby a particular class or caste of persons is discriminated with on the ground of their being born in that particular caste or on the ground of their being members of those social groups involved in menial jobs.
The refusal to do business with someone does not mean they are being treated as untouchables.

The right against exploitation, given in Articles 23 and 24, provides for two provisions, namely the abolition of trafficking in human beings and Begar (forced labour), and the abolition of employment of children below the age of 14 years in dangerous jobs like factories, mines, etc.

Secular humanism, often simply referred to as humanism, is a philosophy or life stance that embraces human reason, secular ethics, and philosophical naturalism while specifically rejecting religious dogma, supernaturalism, and superstition as the basis of morality and decision making. Schools cannot endorse or advance a particular religion, but they also cannot inhibit the expression of religious belief. As a general rule, students may pray on school grounds as long as the prayer is entirely initiated and led by students and does not use school resources.

The following freedoms are not available to an Indian citizen:

• Freedom to participate in armed revolution
• Freedom to start a movement to change the government
• Freedom to oppose the central values of the Constitution

Cultural and Educational Rights are safeguarded mainly for minorities. This provision simply states that the citizens have the right to preserve their language, heritage and backgrounds and cannot be stifled by major language groups.

Saudi Arabia is ruled by a hereditary king and the people have no role in electing or changing their rulers. The main features of this type of government:
(i) The king selects the legislature, the executive and also appoints the judges and can change any of their decisions.
(ii) Citizens cannot form political parties or any political organisations.
(iii) Media cannot report anything that the monarch does not like.
(iv) There is no freedom of religion. Every citizen is required to be Muslim. Non-Muslim residents can follow their religion in private, but not in public.
(v) Women are subjected to many public restrictions. The testimony of one man is considered equal to that of two women.

The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights is a multilateral treaty adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 16 December 1966 through GA. Resolution 2200A (XXI), and came in force from 3 January 1976. Right to social security is included in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. It is a kind of natural right and it is recognized as a basic human right by most of the international personalities. The concept of social security was first introduced in Germany in 1883. According to this scheme each member of a particular trade (blacksmiths, painters, weavers etc.) was required to contribute at regular intervals; Money from this fund was used for food, lodging, hospital and funeral expenses of aged and disabled members.

Ambedkar called Article 32 of the Indian Constitution i.e. Right to Constitutional remedies as 'the heart and soul of the Constitution'. It was made so because mere declaration of the fundamental right without an effective machinery for enforcement of the fundamental rights would have been meaningless.

A special constitutional court enforces the rights enshrined in the constitution. Some of the Rights included in the constitution of South Africa include: Right to Dignity, Right to Privacy, Right to fair labour practices, Right to healthy environment and right to protection of environment, Right to adequate housing, Right to health care, food, waterand social security, Children's rights, Right to basic and higher education, Right of cultural, religious and linguistic communities, Right to information. Right to privacy is a unique law given to citizens of South Africa.

Following are the rights included in Right to Equality.
Article 14 - The State shall not deny to any person equality before the law or the equal protection of the laws within the territory of India, on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth.
Article 15 - The State shall not discriminate against any citizen on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or any of them.
Article 16 - There shall be equality of opportunity for all citizens in matters relating to employment or appointment to any office under the State.
Article 17 - Abolition of untouchability
Article 18 - Abolition of all titles except military and academic

It is the right against bonded or forced labour. The Constitution of India prohibits forced labour and considers it an offence punishable under the law. State can however impose compulsory service for public purposes. The Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976 makes all forms of bonded labour illegal.

NHRC of India is an independent statutory body established on 12 October, 1993 as per provisions of Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, later amended in 2006. NHRC has celebrated its Silver Jubilee (25 years) on October 12, 2018. Its headquarter is located in New Delhi. The NHRC is there to make independent and credible inquiry into any case of violation of human rights. It also inquires into any case of abetment of such violation or negligence in controlling it by any government officer and takes other general steps to promote human rights in the country.