Human Rights – HSC Questions/Answers

Resource Description

Human Rights – HSC Questions/Study Sheet

2015 QUESTIONS

Define Environmental Rights. (2 marks)
Environmental rights are the rights to live with the full enjoyment of our environment, free from issues such as climate change and pollution. It is required so that all other human rights can be adequately exercised. These rights have been recognised in the 2012 Rio+20 Summit where a document on sustainability was developed. Almost 1500 treaties recognise this right.

Explain how ONE non-legal response assists in the protection of human rights. (5 marks)
The media is a non-legal response that assists in the protection and promotion of human rights. The media is a mechanism for raising global awareness on human rights injustices. It has the power to change public opinion and instigate law reform as it places pressure on government to change legislation. For example, the SBS 4 Corners documentary “Sex Slavery” created large-scale awareness of human trafficking in Australia and promoted the issue. Additionally, the abolition of the death penalty in Victoria 1975 was influences by media campaigns. In this way, the media plays a crucial role in protecting and promoting human rights internationally and domestically.