How can breaches of human rights occur

The rule of law is essential to addressing such atrocities, which can otherwise undermine peace and security and hamper development. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights OHCHR supports Member States with implementing human rights standards in national laws and programmes, monitors that justice and accountability mechanisms are established in accordance with international human rights standards, investigates and seeks to redress civil and political, as well as economic, social, and cultural human rights violations and works to integrate human rights standards and principles into the UN system policies and programmes.

Human Rights Law. In human rights treaties, states bear the primary burden of responsibility for protecting and encouraging human rights. When a government ratifies a treaty, they have a three-fold obligation. They must respect, protect, and fulfill human rights. The government must hold everyone and itself accountable.

Businesses and institutions must comply with discrimination laws and promote equality, while every individual should respect the rights of others. When governments are violating human rights either directly or indirectly, civil society should hold them accountable and speak out. The international community also has an obligation to monitor governments and their track records with human rights.

Violations occur all the time, but they should always be called out. Emmaline Soken-Huberty is a freelance writer based in Portland, Oregon. She started to become interested in human rights while attending college, eventually getting a concentration in human rights and humanitarianism.

Learn more about human rights violations with free online courses Definition and types of human rights violations A state commits human rights violations either directly or indirectly. Subscribe to our newsletter! Detailed information on each right protected under the ACT Human Rights Act is available via our online factsheets here.

If a person is a victim of a breach of their human rights by a public authority generally an ACT government agency or an agency performing ACT government functions they may be able to commence proceedings in the ACT Supreme Court to enforce their rights.

The Commission recommends that individuals seek legal advice before considering legal proceedings.