• course
  guide
• introducing commonwealth
  values
• human rights: universal values
• democratic values and structures
• commonwealth
  values and youth development
• course
  summary

Introduction

Welcome to Unit 2 Human Rights: Universal Values. In Unit 1, you learned about The Declaration of Commonwealth Principles – The Singapore Declaration of 1971 and the Harare Declaration of 1991. These two documents together list the principles and priorities that guide the Commonwealth in all its work. We noted that human rights were one of the main themes found in these documents.

In this unit, we look at human rights more closely. We ask: Why are they important? Does everyone even agree on what they are? How can they be protected? Can they be prioritised? Where do they begin?

We ask you to consider that it is only by protecting all the human rights and fundamental freedoms described in the conventions examined in this unit, that a government can be sure to create the conditions for real and sustainable development that benefits all its citizens. It will take you roughly 6 hours to review and reflect on the material in this unit.