We are all familiar with the concept of “human rights”. March is the time of reflection on human rights in South Africa with the 21st being Human Rights Day, an official public holiday.

The question we need to ask ourselves is how much do we really know about human rights? How much are we aware of the struggle to get human rights accepted as a global concept and how much are we aware of countries where people are not as fortunate as us to have our rights acknowledged?

This is your chance to test your knowledge about human rights. Complete this quiz to find out how much you know. The correct answers appear below.

Questions

1. Which of the following is not a human right?
A. The right to free water
B. The right to own property
C. The right to freely participate in cultural life

2. If you face trial in a court, which of these might you not be entitled to?
A. Free presentation if you cannot afford to pay
B. Presumed innocent until proven guilty
C. To be heard in an independent and impartial tribunal

3. Under international human rights law, when is torture legal?
A. Torture is never legal
B. It is only legal when there is an investigation into serious crimes like murder
C. It is legal when you want to gain information to prevent a terrorist attack

4. In 2015, how many countries in the world had criminal legislation against aspects of homosexual activity?
A. 19
B. 39
C. 79
D. 59

5. When is International Human Rights Day?
A. 8 March
B. 10 December
C. 3 September

6. Which of the following is absolutely prohibited under international law?
A. Death penalty
B. Selling guns
C. Slavery

7. Article 1 of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights reads…
A. We hold these truths to be self-evident: That all human beings are born equal
B. All men are created equal, and are endowed by their Creator with certain rights
C. Everyone has the right to live, have liberty, and security of person
D. All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights

8. How many rights are there in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?
A. 15
B. 10
C. 30

9. Where did Martin Luther King, Jr. deliver his famous “I have a dream” speech in 1963?
A. Washington, DC
B. Paris
C. London

10. Since when have universal human rights been recognised?
A. 1848
B. 1928
C. 1948
D. 28 AD

Answers

  1. Although access to affordable, clean and drinkable water is considered a human right, there is no international human rights law which states that it has to be FREE.
  2. The right to free representation in court is not a universally recognised human right.
  3. There is an absolute ban on torture. This means that it is never legal.
  4. 79
  5. 10 December
  6. Slavery
  7. All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights
  8. 30
  9. Washington DC
  10. 1948

 

Sources

 

http://theelders.org/article/human-rights-quiz

Do you know your human rights? [quiz]

http://www.wfuna.org/human-rights-quiz
http://www.proprofs.com/quiz-school/quizshow.php?title=human-rights_35OZ&q=3&next=n