Human Rights: Right to Liberty and Security

Human Rights: Right to Liberty and Security

In this paper I talk about the history of human rights as a background. But mainly I focused on the right of liberty and security, which protects us against arbitrary unlawful deprivation of liberty. I chose this topic because in my thoughts it is interesting.

What Are Human Rights?

Human rights are the basic rights and freedoms that belong to everyone in the world, from birth until death. They are not granted by any state. These universal rights are inherent to all of us, regardless of our nationality, gender, national origin or ethnicity, color, religion, or any other status. Human rights range from the most fundamental, the right to live to those that make life worth living. These fundamental rights are based on shared values such as dignity, fairness, equality, respect and independence. They can never be removed, although they can be restricted for example in case someone breaks the law or if it is of interest of national security.

How Do Human Rights Help You?

Human rights are relevant to all of us, not only for those who are facing repression or ill-treatment. They protect you in many areas of your daily life. They protect your right to have and freely express your opinions, your right to an education, right to a private and family life and your right not to be abused or wrongly punished by the state.

Characteristics of Human Rights

Human rights are inalienable, which implies that they cannot be got rid of and that they are tied to the fundamental fact to human life and are innate altogether.

Human rights are indivisible, which suggests they ought to not be removed. They are linked to the elemental reality of individual and are inherent all told. Human rights are inextricably linked, interdependent, and intertwined. Human rights are inextricably linked to at least one another and can’t be considered separately. One right depends on the practice of the many others, and no right is more essential than the others.

Human rights are universal, which means that they are apply the same way all around the world and without time limit. Everyone has the right to enjoy their fundamentals rights without any kind of distinction being made.

Historical Outline

The belief that everyone has the right to certain human rights is fairly new. Its roots, however, lie in the earlier tradition and documents from many cultures; it took the catalyst of World War II to propel human rights onto the global stage and into the global consciousness.

Documents affirming individual rights, such as the Magna Carta (1215), the English Bill of Rights (1689), the French Declaration on the Rights of Man and Citizen (1789), and the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights (1791) are the forerunner of many current human rights documents. Yet many of these documents, when they were initially in politics, excluded women, people of color, and members of certain social, religious, economic, and political groups.

The idea of human rights became stronger after World War II. The extermination by Nazi Germany of more than six million Jews, Gypsies, homosexuals, and disabled people has the world horrified. Trials have taken place in many places after the war, and officials of the defeated countries have been punished for having committed war crimes, anti-peace and crimes against humanity. As a result, governments have undertaken to create the United Nations, with the main aim of strengthening international peace and preventing conflicts.

Members of the United Nations are promoting respect for the human rights of all. On December 10, 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the 56 members of the United Nations. The vote was unanimous, although that eight nations chose to abstain. The influence of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights has been considerable. Its principles have been incorporated into the constitutions of most over 185 countries currently in United Nations.

Basic Human Rights

The list of 30 basic human rights includes: all human beings are free and equal, no discrimination, right to life, no slavery, no torture and inhuman treatment, same right to use law, equal before the law, right to be treated fair by court, no unfair detainment, right to trial, innocent until proved guilty, right to privacy, freedom to movement and residence, right to asylum, right to nationality, right to marry and have family, right to own things, freedom of thought and religion, freedom of opinion and expression, right to assemble, right to democracy, right to social security, right to work, right to rest and holiday, right of social service, right to education, right of cultural and art, freedom around the world, subject to law, human rights can’t be taken away (Nations, 1948).

Right to Liberty and Security

Everyone has the right to liberty and security. This right protects us against arbitrary unlawful deprivation of liberty. As a matter of fact, a person who has been arrested has the right to certain minimums and also the right to be brought to justice without unreasonable delay. In case that you have been arrested the human rights law states that you have the right:

  • To be informed in a language that understand why you have been arrested and what charges you face.
  • Be brought to court as soon as possible.
  • Have a bail subject to certain conditions.
  • Have a trial within reasonable time.
  • Go to court to challenge your detention if you believe that it is not right.
  • Compensation if you have been detained illegally.

Is It True that Video Surveillance Cameras Violate People’s Privacy?

As the use of cameras and listening equipment for both video and audio becomes more common, society as a full is worried with privacy concerns. Many folks regard cameras, especially hidden cameras, as a challenge to their right to privacy. Security experts and facility operators who employ cameras and other monitoring equipment must bear in mind of the moral consequences of doing so. Improper use of monitoring equipment may also end up in punishment of the business or person for violating federal or state laws. Surveillance cameras and video logging in ‘public’ areas are normally legal. Camera monitoring and video capture is generally not legal in ‘private’ spaces. A private space is an area in which a normal citizen has ‘privacy expectations’. Areas where ‘privacy expectations’ occur include toilets, bathrooms, lockers, lounges, first aid rooms and related areas. Audio recording legislation is generally much more restrictive than video recording legislation. Although most video cameras allow the recording of audio, many applications use the audio recording option illegal. Any jurisdictions can warrant the posting of a sign stating that the area is being monitored by video or audio.

Cameras that monitor employee work areas are usually legal, but can create moral issues if employees feel that the cameras are getting used to observe their productivity and work habits. The coverage and purpose of cameras and other surveillance devices should be clearly communicated to all or any employees. It is suggested that this subject be included within the company’s employee handbook.

Companies of employers covered by a union or other labor body should ensure that the implementation of cameras or other monitoring equipment does not break any collective bargaining arrangement.

Special care must be enamored hidden camera installations. While it should be tempting to undertake to catch a thief, an improperly obtained recording is useless as evidence and may subject the corporate to legal damages costing way more than any theft would cost. The employment of covert cameras in burglary investigations is not a do-it-yourself project and is best left to expert investigators who are acquainted with applicable laws.

Video Surveillance

In certain nations, security cameras are almost indispensable. They won’t to only be found in banks and high-security zones, but now a day they will be found in public places such as shopping malls, streets, airports and transportation. Many people feel the surveillance cameras get in their privacy and the majority claim that they do not feel comfortable with them. Many people believe that security cameras bring more problems than benefits, but in fact, the benefits of security cameras outweigh the drawbacks. And that is why I would like to talk about some of the problems and benefits that security cameras have.

Video monitoring is not effective proof video. The recent uptick in the number of terrorist acts is why surveillance cameras are being used. But one in every of the most reasons for its use is to forestall suicides and to facilitate the rapid detection of thieves or murderer. Although quite once someone has been recorded by security cameras and as a result has been shown on television or shared on social networks. The important purpose cameras are often installed is to stop even more serious crimes. But they need not yet shown that they are capable of doing so.

One of the issues with developing a powerful monitoring device is that it will eventually be exploited, as history has demonstrated. Surveillance camera systems may be abused in different ways:

  • Police abuse. When it comes to police brutality, certain cops, who are normally corrupt, abuse their authority by using video cameras. Some policemen have abused the cameras for his or her own gain; that’s there are occasions where it’s been shown that officers edited or missed such videos so as to stop being affected.
  • Institutional abuse. When an organization does unethical activities, such as spying on other nations or bullying political leaders fighting for a just government, this is known as institutional violence.
  • Abuse for personal purposes. Often people use surveillance cameras for their own advantage. There have been instances where someone who works monitoring the videos from the cameras has done favors for several friends, such as watching the friend’s girlfriend, stalking people, or harassing others.
  • Discriminatory targeting. Humans run video monitoring services, bringing with them all of their pre-existing beliefs and stereotypes. There have been several reports of employees focusing only on persons of color.

Security cameras are very easy to control as they’ll be placed anywhere as long as there’s an influence source nearby. They are available altogether shapes and sizes; some are so small that they’ll be hidden in plants, pictures, etc. But the matter is that security cameras can cost hundreds or maybe thousands of Euros, betting on the features and therefore the number of cameras and surveillance systems purchased. The installation and maintenance of those cameras and systems entail additional costs. But security cameras can deter crime. This can be the most important and most blatant advantage of putting in them. Once they’re in situ, you’ll be able to see the effect on people presently. Whether or not they are placed inconspicuously, people begin to feel safer, which end up in greater peace of mind.

Wherever the cameras are installed, crime is prevented. The mere sight of the camera and therefore the thought of being caught red-handed is intimidating enough to place criminals on their best behavior, as they will know that their identity and criminal activity has been captured.

Having cameras installed in strategic locations is incredibly is useful once you must monitor people’s actions and words during an incident. Cameras, additionally to recording video, are capable of recording audio. This is often especially useful when it involves a legal scenario, where due to a security camera; judicial authorities can see the series of events as they really unfolded. Although the largest objection when it involves privacy is that a lot of people feel that they must be absolve to travel or move a couple of store, mall, street or country without being recorded. They feel that being under constant surveillance is like being in prison, or that people are losing their freedom as a result. One in all the largest complaints the people have is that in many countries the government or authorities are corrupt. In those cases, people don’t trust the protection of cameras because they do not know whether the government or the authorities what are going to do with those images. What I mean is that folks are afraid that the records are going to be tricked to victimize an innocent person.

Conclusion

To reiterate what has been said before, while the utilization of surveillance technology, like surveillance cameras, has obvious benefits, but we must bear in mind that we must balance the requirement for cover with respect for every individual’s privacy and rights. If we do not trust the members of society, we could find ourselves in a very condition kind of like George Orwell’s ‘1984’.

Essay on Arguments against Police Brutality

Essay on Arguments against Police Brutality

Do you know how bad police brutality has been in the past years? Police brutality is the excessive use of force used by police. Police brutality affects not only the victims but also our communities as they can feel fear and be targeted by police officers. Most of the people who have been killed by officers are colored people, which can bring out the question if these killings are due to racism. According to Nicole Hannah-Jones, “Young black men are 21 times more likely to be shot and killed by police than young white men.” People of color have a higher risk of being victims of police brutality, which makes it difficult for them not to feel any fear or paranoia towards police officers when encounter one.

Police brutality is an issue that happens in many different places around the world, but mostly in the US. “Among the 100 largest cities in the U.S., more than 80 of them had at least one case of a police officer killing a civilian in 2018. By sheer numbers, Phoenix, Houston, and Los Angeles had the most such cases,” (security.com). We can see that the US has a large number of police killings, making us one of the most affected states with police brutality. Bringing up the issue of police brutality is so important because we need to speak up for our safety and the safety of our communities as many people are at risk of being victims of unnecessary use of force. This specific issue might not be talked about a lot on the news, but many cases just have not been talked about, but are still out there, which is why we need to all be informed of what’s happening in our communities. Even though police officers are supposed to be looking out for the safety of our communities, over the past years, many officers have failed with their unnecessary use of force causing victims to feel fear. Not only fear, but these victims can also develop potential psychological effects such as high levels of PTSD.

Police brutality has not only been a recent issue, but it has been going on for many years in history. Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, Jim Crow laws were developed and established between the North and the South to separate whites from people of color, specifically, African Americans. “For about 80 years, Jim Crow laws mandated separate public spaces for blacks and whites, such as schools, libraries, water fountains, and restaurants – and enforcing them was part of the police’s job. Blacks who broke laws or violated social norms often endured police brutality,” (Hassett-Walker, 2019). As we can see, Jim Crow laws were strictly enforced by police, and if laws were to be broken or violated, there would be police brutality involved towards the people of color. The unnecessary use of force toward people of color is something that has been going on for a long time and has increased throughout the years. Most of these policemen enforcing the Jim Crow laws were mostly white men. In addition, Connie Hasset-Walker also mentioned, “For the past five decades, the federal government has forbidden the use of racist regulations at the state and local level. Yet people of color are still more likely to be killed by the police than whites.” Although it might be forbidden for police officers to use any racist actions towards individuals, that does not mean they will not.

Most of the deaths caused by police brutality are white officers towards people of color, specifically African Americans which is why it is understandable that they feel fear. There are many different events where it is seen that policemen have enforced these acts, but back in 1955, a civil rights activist, Rosa Parks, was arrested in Montgomery, Alabama for not giving up her seat on the bus, as she was in the all-white section when she was a person of color. “Two policemen came on the bus, and one asked me if the driver had told me to stand…He wanted to know why I didn’t stand up, and I told him I didn’t think I should have to stand up. I asked him, why did they push us around? He said, ‘I don’t know, but the law is the law and you are under arrest,” (achievement.org). The discrimination that was enforced was really big, as it brought a lot of injustice towards people of color, such as Rosa Parks when she was arrested for sitting in the all-white section of a public bus. It is to see that policemen have been enforcing segregation for many years, and although it is not a law anymore, many still enforce it with their unnecessary use of force causing many deaths. The United States is very diverse with people from many different countries and many different cultures, but that isn’t the same for the police departments across the US.

Many of the policemen are white males, and there aren’t many people of color as policemen. Even in cities where there is a diversity between Hispanics and other races, it is more likely to find white policemen. “Cities in Los Angeles County with large Hispanic populations, like West Covina and Pomona, have mostly white police departments. In parts of Orange County, like Buena Park, Tustin and Garden Grove, growing Asian and Hispanic communities are also policed by mostly white departments,” (Ashkenas and Park, 2015). Many cities are full of many different races but are still being patrolled by mainly white officers, which shows the big diversity gap there is in the police departments across the US. Probably having more Hispanic, Asian, and African American officers can help communities feel safer rather than targeted. It is seen throughout the years that most of the police brutality incidents that have happened have been with white policemen, which can bring the question of rather it is racism or not. The United States is very diverse with people from many different countries and many different cultures, but that isn’t the same for the police departments across the US.

Many of the policemen are white males, and there aren’t many people of color as policemen. Even in cities where there is a diversity between Hispanics and other races, it is more likely to find white policemen. “Cities in Los Angeles County with large Hispanic populations, like West Covina and Pomona, have mostly white police departments. In parts of Orange County, like Buena Park, Tustin and Garden Grove, growing Asian and Hispanic communities are also policed by mostly white departments,” (Ashkenas and Park, 2015). Many cities are full of many different races but are still being patrolled by mainly white officers, which shows the big diversity gap there is in the police departments across the US. Probably having more Hispanic, Asian, and African American officers can help communities feel safer rather than targeted. It is seen throughout the years that most of the police brutality incidents that have happened have been with white policemen, which can bring the question of rather it is racism or not. “A second approach to understanding the behavior of police officers is psychological….This approach highlights variation among officers in their behavioral predispositions, a variation that is obscured by the sociological approach. This perspective also underlies many propositions (or suppositions) about behavioral differences related to officers’ race, gender, and educational background..,” (Worden, 152)

As mentioned by Robert E. Worden, the way policemen act can be due to the difference in their race and the way they were educated. They of course all come from different backgrounds and different families in which they were all educated in their way, which is why they have different approaches to people. It can be said that the conflicts that have been going on for years, for example, the Jim Crow laws and segregation, can be one of the reasons why white officers seem to target people of color more than anyone. Policemen might not only be racist against individuals, but they are also very corrupt and negatively use their power. There have been many incidents where policemen use violence and excessive force with individuals who are not armed and not a sign of threat at all. In an article by the Stroud Law firm injury law, it is mentioned that “while most police officers take that pledge seriously, there are some who abuse the power given them to fulfill selfish personal desires. Abuse of power by a law enforcement officer could include the use of excessive force, placing a citizen under false arrest, an unlawful murder.” As mentioned, not all officers are abusive and corrupt, but those who abuse their power in many different ways, which include unlawful murder and excessive force which fall under police brutality. When policemen abuse their power, they not only illegally attack and intimidate these victims, but they also make them feel fear because they will feel like they can’t do anything against this abuse since police have huge power and authority. This type of abuse can cause many people to feel fear and also feel targeted by policemen or any law enforcement.

A big majority of these cases are towards people of color. “The police stopped him because of a call about a “Black man, black clothing.” Then the encounter went south — a scene emblematic of racialized policing that is all too familiar. Despite being cooperative with the officers, Officer Jordan Nelson, without warning, grabbed one of Bills’ arms and violently kicked his legs out from under him, smashing his face into the concrete,” (Wilcox, 2018). This case of a black man who lived in Kansas City, Josh Bills, is an example of police excessive use of force, as well as police brutality. This man was walking by his home, as he was approached by Kansas officers. Bills did not act aggressively, or disrespectfully, instead, he greeted the policemen. Out of nowhere, the policemen started to hurt Bill, as mentioned, without there being a problem in the first place. Smashing someone’s face into the concrete, and kicking their body is extremely excessive and unnecessary, especially when the individual is not showing any signs of aggressive behavior towards any of the officers. This here is showing how policemen/officers abuse their power in situations they shouldn’t.

Policemen should not use any physical contact or excessive force in situations where it is not needed, because they are increasing police brutality, as well as harming victims that have done nothing wrong at all. Police brutality is such a big issue and needs to be stopped and reduced to help out many communities, especially people of color. Police brutality can be a factor that causes issues to both victims and communities with people of color as they can feel targeted, due to the huge number of police brutality against people of color, to experience mental health issues. “Boston University’s School of Health and the University of Pennsylvania released a study that found the high rate of unarmed African Americans being killed at the hands of police has caused more incidents of depression, stress, and other mental health issues among blacks,” (Thurau and Wald, 2018). Police brutality causes stress and mental health issues for both victims and members of the community. There have been a lot of innocent deaths of African Americans due to police officers. Although many might not think it affects others, it does as it brings fear and the question of whether they can be a possible target for policemen or not. Some potential mental health issues that can be caused are PTSD and distress. “Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that’s triggered by a terrifying event — either experiencing it or witnessing it. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event,” (mayoclinic.org).

Being a victim of police brutality can cause PTSD to victims, due to the assault done by the policemen. PTSD can not only happen to the victims but also those around them and their community, as they can feel fear and also feel some type of trigger due to the event. To conclude, police brutality is a huge problem around the world, but especially in the US. This is an issue that has affected a lot of people, but specifically people of color. Some policemen use unnecessary force in situations against individuals, which most of the time, are not a threat. The fact that policemen abuse their power and attack innocent people is just disgusting, and there should be a change to that because they are supposed to be protecting our communities, not harming them. Police brutality does not only physically affect these victims but also mentally way due to the mental health issues that can be caused by these events. There should also definitely be more diversity in the police departments so that the communities can feel safe and also feel comfortable going to the policemen, instead of feeling attacked or targeted, as most police departments consist of mainly white officers. Overall, we should all stand up for our communities to reduce and put a stop to the police brutality that happens in our communities, to prevent the deaths of innocent people, as well as to protect our families.

Works Cited

    1. Page Akpan, Nsikan. “Police Militarization Fails to Protect Officers and Targets Black Communities, Study Finds.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, 21 Aug. 2018, www.pbs.org/newshour/science/police-militarization-fails-to-protect-officers-and-targets-black-communities-study-finds.
    2. Ashkenas, Jeremy, and Haeyoun Park. “The Race Gap in America’s Police Departments.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 4 Sept. 2014, www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/09/03/us/the-race-gap-in-americas-police-departments.html.
    3. Hassett-Walker, Connie. “The Racist Roots of American Policing: From Slave Patrols to Traffic Stops.” Chicago Reporter, 11 June 2019, www.chicagoreporter.com/the-racist-roots-of-american-policing-from-slave-patrols-to-traffic-stops/.
    4. “Law Enforcement Abuse of Power: Southaven Injury Lawyer.” The Stroud Law Firm, stroudlawyers.com/civil-rights/law-enforcement-abuse-of-power/.
    5. Maguire, Edward R., and David Duffee. Criminal Justice Theory: Explaining the Nature and Behavior of Criminal Justice. Routledge, 2015. Norwood, Arlisha. “Rosa Parks.” National Women’s History Museum, www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/rosa-parks.
    6. “Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 6 July 2018, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20355967. “Rosa Parks.” Academy of Achievement, 10 Dec. 2019, www.achievement.org/achiever/rosa-parks/.
    7. Thurau, Lisa H., and Johanna Wald. “Police Killings, Brutality Damaging Mental Health of Black Community.” USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 15 Sept. 2018, www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/policing/spotlight/2018/09/14/police-brutality-damaging-black-communitys-mental-health/1218566002/.
    8. Wilcox, Gillian. “Police Brutality Against Black Kansas City Man Caught on Video.” American Civil Liberties Union, American Civil Liberties Union, 12 Oct. 2018, www.aclu.org/blog/criminal-law-reform/reforming-police/police-brutality-against-black-kansas-city-man-caught