Human Rights

• Genesis 1: 'Then God said, let us make mankind in our image,
• Pope Francis: 'How can it be that it is not a news item when an elderly homeless person dies of exposure, but it is news if the stock market loses two points?'
• Agape


  Selfless love. The highest form of agape is Jesus' crucifixion for the sake of humankind.
• Charity


  A way of showing agape
• Oscar Romero was born in 1917. He was assassinated amid his preaching and protests against the corruption of the oppressed - people were very poor indeed.
• In 2015, Robert Lewis Dear shot and killed three people and injured nine more at a 'planned parenthood' clinic. He was a Christian who believed that the Bible condemns abortion. He said he was doing 'God's work'. When he was tried in court, he was found to be delusional and couldn't stand trial.
• Liberation theology


  Based on Jesus' teachings to free oppressed people from abuses of power. Christians will take part in peaceful protests to support suffering injustices.
• Nadia Eweida was a worker at an airline. She was suspended for wearing a cross. She said she could wear it as a symbol like Muslims wear hijabs. The airline changed the policy to let her wear it.
• All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights
• Circumstances such as where a person is born, where they live or their gender and ethnicity should never determine their income or opportunities Deceleration of Human Rights
• Everyone has the right to freedom of expression
• All is Brahman
• Respecting each other for Hindus


  Working for their happiness. Everyone has the right to be happy. We are all in the stream of life.
• The Trimurti and the ten avatars of Vishnu explain the creation and development of the universe.
• All living things have an atman. They have come from God and will return to God. 'No one is superior or inferior‘
• Hinduism doesn't talk about human rights. It focuses on dharma. If dharma is fulfilled the world will be in order. It binds people together - each individual is playing their part. They are representing Brahman.
• Hindu society is separated into varnas: priests, soldiers, shopkeepers and labourers. The Dalits (or Harijans) are 'outcastes'
• Some people say that the caste system is based on custom rather than religion. Some, including Gandhi, fight for the rights of Dalits.
• Gandhi promoted 'civil disobedience' - refusal to obey laws considered unjust. He did this by: Salt March, burning of the passes, fasting.
• Cows are considered sacred and are free to wander in many Indian towns and cities.
• The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 10, 1948.
• Article 25 of the UDHR states that everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for their health and well-being, including food, clothing, housing, medical care, and necessary social services.