Foundations of Rights, Democracy & Gender Equality
Core Principles of Human Rights
Universal
They apply to everyone worldwide, without exclusion, treating all individuals equally. Although their complete realization has not yet been achieved, this does not diminish the necessity of their recognition.
Preferred
When human rights conflict with other rights or interests, they generally take precedence. Their application must be carefully monitored.
Imprescriptible
They cannot be lost and never expire; they are valid at all times. While ideally without limits, it is sometimes necessary to restrict certain rights to ensure others can be enjoyed.
Inalienable
They cannot be surrendered or transferred to others.
Indivisible, Interdependent, and Non-Negotiable
All rights are equally important and interconnected. The protection of one right cannot be used to deny another, as they form a cohesive whole.
Generations of Human Rights
First-Generation Rights: Civil and Political
These rights were primarily claimed by the bourgeoisie against the old regime, starting from the 16th century, guided by the moral value of freedom. They include rights such as freedom of speech, religion, and assembly.
Second-Generation Rights: Economic, Social, and Cultural
These encompass equal rights relating to economic, social, and cultural aspects. They were championed by the labor movement over the past two centuries. The argument is that without these rights (e.g., right to work, education, healthcare), civil and political rights cannot be fully exercised, necessitating action to ensure first-generation rights are meaningful.
Third-Generation Rights: Solidarity
These are the rights of solidarity, emphasizing that everyone has the right to be born and live in a just society, and the right to peace, development, and a healthy environment. However, these third-generation rights alone cannot ensure the complete fulfillment of first and second-generation rights, which remain independently essential. National and international solidarity is crucial for their achievement.
Pillars of a Democratic State
The essential requirements for a democratic state include:
- Universal suffrage
- A constitution
- Secret ballot
- Periodic elections
- The right to hold high political office
- Majority rule in decision-making
- The division of powers
- Freedom of expression
Forms of Democratic Governance
Direct Democracy
Direct democracy is a system where members of a group directly participate with voice and vote in meetings where decisions are made. This model is typically applied in smaller groups or communities.
Representative Democracy
Representative democracy is a system where citizens periodically elect representatives to make decisions that affect the collective. This form is commonly used in larger institutions and nations where direct participation by all is impractical.
Understanding Societal Discrimination
Common Grounds for Discrimination
Discrimination can manifest in various forms, based on grounds such as:
- Physical appearance
- Employment status (e.g., not having a job)
- Age
- Disability
- Gender
- Ethnicity
- Lack of basic education
Specific Forms: Sexism and Heterosexism
Sexism is discrimination, typically against women, based on the belief in alleged male superiority.
Heterosexism is discrimination based on the belief in the superiority of heterosexual individuals or relationships over other sexual orientations.
Feminism: Equality Movements and Theories
Defining Feminism
Feminism is a social and political movement that aspires to achieve equal rights for women as those held by men. It encompasses a diverse set of social theories and political practices that critically analyze social history, both past and present, from the perspective of the female experience. Due to the variety and heterogeneity of these theories and practices, it is common to speak of feminisms in the plural.
In general, feminism critiques the social inequality experienced by women compared to men and demands the elimination of any perceived or actual inferiority of women. Feminist theories examine the complex relationships between gender, sexuality, and social, political, and economic power.
Diverse Feminist Approaches
Radical Feminism
Some strands advocate for a direct confrontation between the sexes and may organize separate political entities to support women’s interests (e.g., Lidia Falcón’s creation of the Feminist Party in Spain).
Socialist Feminism
This approach aims to transform social structures, attitudes, and ways of thinking that perpetuate the oppression of women, often linking gender inequality with class and economic systems.
Liberal/Reformist Feminism
This form seeks to achieve equal rights for women in all societal fields and defends the interests of women as consumers, mothers, and citizens, typically working within existing structures.