How Human Rights can be limited by the Government

In today’s complex world, governments face many challenges. Although human rights are fundamental and cannot be taken away, they are not without limits. Finding the right balance between protecting public safety and ensuring that citizens can enjoy their freedoms and uphold their rights is a delicate and ongoing challenge for any government.

Challenges government face today include:

Terrorism - the mass movement of people around the world makes national security very difficult.

Enhanced communication technology - through the use of social media, people can discuss and plan attacks online, posing a risk to national security.

Public health - with the movement of people around the world, infectious diseases can spread from country to country quickly and so this poses a risk to the health of people in each country.

How Human Rights can be limited by Governments:

• Governments have terrorism laws that may impact on Human Rights but are necessary to prevent international terrorism.

• The use of CCTVs may impact on Human Rights but are necessary to watch the movement of people who may be a threat to citizens' safety.

• Surveillance of individuals' browser history and mobile phones may impact on Human Rights but are necessary to prevent a threat to security.

• Banning travel to certain countries may impact on Human Rights but are necessary to limit the spread of infectious diseases.

QUESTIONS YOU COULD BE ASKED ON THIS

Explain one example where an individual's rights are limited to protect others in society (2marks)

An individual’s right to privacy is limited when surveillance, such as CCTV, is used to capture images of people for purposes like public safety, such as monitoring traffic or speeding and preventing theft.

Discuss the reasons why human rights may be limited in society (6marks)

To Protect Others' Rights. Sometimes one person’s rights (e.g. freedom of speech) can harm others. Limiting these rights can help protect people from hate speech, violence, or discrimination.

To Protect Public Health. In situations like a pandemic, governments may restrict freedom of movement (e.g. lockdowns or travel bans) to stop the spread of disease and protect public health.

To Maintain Public Safety. Rights like privacy may be limited through surveillance (e.g. CCTV) to prevent crime, monitor traffic, and keep people safe.

Evaluate the role of human rights in supporting democracy (10marks)

Human rights allow people to vote, protest, and join political parties—ensuring citizens have a say in how the country is run. They help ensure everyone is treated equally and protect people from abuse, like torture or discrimination. Also human rights like free speech and a free press allow people to challenge the government, share ideas, and expose wrongdoing.

However, in practice, governments or public bodies may ignore or violate human rights, weakening democracy. Minority groups may still face unequal treatment or feel excluded, reducing fairness in a democracy. Also, governments may limit rights for national security, but this can lead to more control and fewer freedoms.

In conclusion, human rights are vital for a fair and working democracy, giving people freedom, protection, and a voice. However, if rights aren't respected equally or are limited, democracy can suffer. For democracy to succeed, human rights must be upheld in both law and practice.

You should also read:

Laws that protect people's Human Rights in Northern Ireland

How the Northern Ireland Government can safeguard Human Rights and Equality

Organisations in Northern Ireland that protect Human Rights