Abstract
In this paper an attempt is made to offer a survey of the present dis cussion of the issue of human rights. In the first place there is a ref erence to the traditional concepts of human rights, viz. the classic liberal, the Marx ist-Leninist (Socialist) and the Third World theories and their (pre-War and post-War) concrete embodiments in international, regional and national contexts. Subsequently the initial negative ap proach of the institutionalized churches and their later change in attitude - with special reference to the fundamental shifts in approach - are in vestigated. The Calvinist view of human rights is discussed within the framework of the recent debate among Afrikaans academics and politi cians. With reference to the viewpoints of Wiechers, Van Rooyen, Stoker, Jonker and Du Toit a version of views about the existence of a biblical framework for human rights is provided. The important publication of the Reformed Ecumenical Synod about the Scriptural grounding as well as its embodiment in a number of concrete human rights is discussed. Finally, some outlines are provided for a further development of the Scripturally founded view of human rights with reference to the Refor- mational ground rule of Reformats semper reformaiida est.
Highlights
V ry mense kan honger ly (Uitlatings tydens die debat oor die Universele Deklarasie van Menseregte, 10 Desember 1948)
T yd en s die opkoms en die hoogbloei van die Positivisme - wat die u its Iu itti ke bestaan van die sigbaar waarneembare realiteit in sy verskillende geledinge as enigste primaat stel, en gevolglik die nie-waarneembare na die vlak van die metafisika verdoein - het daar 'n sterk afkeer van die bestaan van menseregte ingetree
Artikel 2 van die Universele Deklarasie van Menseregte bevat die gelykheidsbeginsel: Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origion, property, birth or other status
Summary
Daar word vandag algemeen aanvaar dat die hedendaagse Westerse leerstuk van menseregte sy oo rsp ron g in John Locke se Two Treatises of C ivil Government (1G90) gevind het*. Locke se benadering dat die onderdaan sekere fundamentele aansprake teen bepaalde owerheidsoptredes het wat deur die howe beskerm moet word, moet teen dié agtergrond gesien word dat. Die belangrikste sewentiende en agtiende eeuse menseregteoretici, Locke en Rousseau, gaan uit van die bestaan van 'n natuurstaat wat die huidige samelewing voorafgegaan het. Volgens Locke is daar 'n eerste verdrag tussen die gemeenskapslede onderling gesluit (die pactum unionis) insake die daarstelling van n staatlike gemeenskap, en daarna is n tweede ve rd ra g (die sogenaamde sosiale kontrak) met n bepaalde instansie of persoon aangegaan w aarkragtens ow erbeidsgesag dan aan hom oorgedra is. Sou die orgaan egter nie sy verpligtinge (waaronder die eerbiediging van die basiese regte van die onderdaan) nakom nie, kon die onderdane dan eensydig die kontrak beëindig en n nuwe g e sa g sfig u u r aanwys (en met hom n nuwe sosiale kontrak aangaan)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
