Ex.2 Topical vocabulary

1. Egalitarian a) a way of speaking or writing that is intended to impress or influence people but is not always sincere

1. Doctrine b) to cause a particular feeling or reaction

2. Flourish c) causing public discussion and disagreement

3. Elaborate d) interesting and full of energy

4. Provoke e) following the principle that everyone should have equal rights

5. Controversial f) a situation that is the result of an important or unpleasant event

6. Animated g) very cruel treatment of somebody/something

7. Aftermath h) a set of beliefs that is taught by a church, political party

8. Atrocities i) very complicated, done or made very carefully

9. Rhetoric j) to be strong and healthy, to develop in a successful way

Ex. 3 Read and summarize the text

United Nations Charter

The provisions of the United Nations Charter provided a basis for the development of international human rights protection.[21] The preamble of the charter provides that the members "reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the equal rights of men and women" and Article 1(3) of the United Nations charter states that one of the purposes of the UN is: "to achieve international cooperation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character, and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion".[22] Article 55 provides that:

The United Nations shall promote: a) higher standards of living, full employment, and conditions of economic and social progress and development; b) solutions of international economic, social, health, and related problems; c) international cultural and educational cooperation; d) universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion.

Of particular importance is Article 56 of the charter:"All Members pledge themselves to take joint and separate action in co-operation with the Organization for the achievement of the purposes set forth in Article 55." This is a binding treaty provision applicable to both the Organisation and its members and has been taken to constitute a legal obligation for the members of the United Nations.[21] Overall, the references to human rights in the Charter are general and vague. The Charter does not contain specific legal rights, nor does it mandate any enforcement procedures to protect these rights.[23] Despite this, the significance of the espousal of human rights within the UN charter must not be understated. The importance of human rights on the global stage can be traced to the importance of human rights within the United Nations framework and the UN Charter can be seen as the starting point for the development of a broad array of declarations, treaties, implementation and enforcement mechanisms, UN organs, committees and reports on the protection of human rights.[23] The rights espoused in the UN charter would be codified and defined in the International Bill of Human Rights, composing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

Ex.1 Read the text and translate.

What are economic, social and cultural rights?

60 years ago, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaimed a wide spectrum of human rights that every human being has – without discrimination. They include not only rights to freedom of expression and freedom from torture and ill-treatment, but also rights to education, to adequate housing and other economic, social and cultural rights.

Economic, social and cultural rights are a broad category of human rights guaranteed in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and other legally binding international and regional human rights treaties. Nearly every country in the world is party to a legally binding treaty that guarantees these rights. They include:

• rights at work, particularly just and fair conditions of employment, protection against forced or compulsory labour and the right to form and join trade unions;

• the right to education, including ensuring that primary education is free and compulsory, that education is sufficiently available, accessible, acceptable and adapted to the individual;

• cultural rights of minorities and Indigenous Peoples;

• the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, including the right to healthy living conditions and available, accessible, acceptable and quality health services;

• the right to adequate housing, including security of tenure, protection from forced eviction and access to affordable, habitable, well located and culturally adequate housing;

• the right to food, including the right to freedom from hunger and access at all times to adequate nutritious food or the means to obtain it;

• the right to water – the right to sufficient water and sanitation that is available, accessible (both physically and economically) and safe.