THE NEED TO STRENGTHEN INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION OF THE THIRD-GENERATION HUMAN RIGHTS

Abstract

1. Purpose The purpose of the article is to confirm the relevance of isolation of the third-generation human rights and to indicate the need for action at international level in order to enforce such rights of a collective nature. Analysing the selected third-generation human rights the author draws attention to the fact that some of the third-generation rights are violated in practice and hence indispensable are measures of an international nature that aim at reinforcement of protection of these rights. 2. Introduction The third-generation human rights were isolated in the 70’s of the XX century by a French scientist of Czech origin Karel Vašak. They are collective in nature and contrary to the first- and second-generation rights (which are related to liberty and equality) serve entire human communities. Protection of the third-generation human rights makes sense if the overall objective of the ensuring is not a human but a group of people. Hence, the most significant third-generation human rights house in particular the right to peace, to democratic state based on the rule of law, to self-determination of nations, to security, to a healthy environment, to development, to humanitarian aid, to participation in human heritage. It is important to realise that enforcement of the first- and second-generation human rights (to liberty and equality) is associated with a sufficient guaranteeing the third-generation human rights. Unfortunately, the third-generation rights are often violated nowadays (by numerous wars, impossibility of self-determination for some nations, lack of broad international environmental protection measures and cherishing the common human heritage). That is why it is vital to create awareness and take actions in favour of protection of the third-generation human rights. 3. Methodology The author isolates and describes the third-generation human rights using primarily the method of critical review of the literature. In the alternative, he deals with the dogmatic-legal method analysing texts of international law. In order to illustrate cases of the third-generation human rights abuses and to give legitimacy to taking action at international level the author also uses the case study method. 4. Conclusions The author justifies the need to isolate the third-generation human rights and proves that contemporarily these rights are prejudiced on many aspects. He indicates that violation of the third-generation human rights legitimizes the need to strengthen their protection at international level. The respect for the third-generation human rights guarantees the exercise of liberties and equality laws, i.e. the first- and second-generation human rights