Exercising your franchise
Preparing for an election?
Thinking of becoming a candidate for an election? Remember YOU will be under scrutiny!
You should:
■ Provide a manifesto setting out the main objectives for the period. This is a document which says who you are, why you are standing for election, and what you intend to do, should you get elected.
■ Use the media. This is a really popular means of getting information across to prospective voters during elections.
■ Organise open forums for discussions, where candidates can get together to answer questions asked by prospective voters. It’s a great way to see what the other candidates are talking about and to sell yourself.
■ Think about where you can find your voters and who they are, and, most important, why they should vote for you. Be visible and honest!!
In ensuring that democracy works, it requires informed and active citizens who understand how to voice their interests, act collectively, and hold public officials accountable. Citizens must understand the basis of citizenship, politics and government; and they need knowledge to make good policy choices and understand the proper use of authority. Citizens also need the desire to exercise their rights and the political space to do so without unreasonable resistance or harassment from authorities or others. This embodies our human rights, freedoms and responsibilities.
Human rights are the rights a person has simply because he or she is a human being, and they provide a common standard by which people should treat each other.
Human rights should be held by all persons equally, universally, and forever.
Human rights are described as inalienable: you cannot lose these rights any more than an individual can cease being a human being.
Human rights are also described as being indivisible: you cannot be denied a right
because it is ‘less important’ or ‘non-essential’.
Human rights are interdependent: all human rights are part of a complementary framework which embodies responsibilities to self, country and other human beings. For example, the ability to participate in government is directly affected by the right to express oneself, to get an education, and even to obtain the necessities of life.
In claiming these human rights, everyone also accepts the responsibility not to infringe on the rights of others, and to support those whose rights are abused or denied.
The United Nations (UN) was established with its primary objective to promote international peace. The founders of the UN recognised that protecting individuals rights to life, freedom, basic necessities, and nationality would be critical to fulfilling the organisation’s mission to maintain peace. A special committee was created and given the responsibility of creating a document that would define these rights.
The UN Commission on Human Rights subsequently issued the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The UDHR provides a comprehensive framework and vision for how human dignity and freedom should be protected. It clearly outlines a set of standards and guidelines which, when upheld, provide a foundation for life, freedom, access to basic necessities, pursuit of happiness, and nationality.
Every human being has the inherent right to life. This right shall be protected by law. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life. The right to life is the essential right that a human being has – the right to not be killed by another human being.
Freedom from slavery is internationally recognised as a human right. No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.
Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.
■ The right to be heard by a competent, independent and impartial tribunal.
■ The right to a public hearing.
■ The right to be heard within a reasonable time.
■ The right to counsel.
■ The right to interpretation.
Freedom of speech is the freedom to speak freely without censorship.
Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom – either alone or in community, with others and in public or private – to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.
Freedom of movement asserts that a citizen of a country in which that citizen is present has the liberty to travel, reside in, and/or work in any part of the country where he/ she pleases within the limits of respect for the liberty and rights of others.
Right to keep and bear arms for defence.
ACTIVITIES
1. Suggest THREE reasons governments must organise and control the election system.
2. Suggest and explain THREE responsibilities you have as a citizen of your country.
3. Can you think of a new right or freedom that should be added to the list of human rights? Give reasons for your answer.