2.1.2 - The Importance of Rights & Possible conflict of Rights

Question 1

Question 1
What does the ‘Freedom of expression’ entail?

Answer 1

Right to hold opinions & express them freely without government interference

E.g. via Media, Newspapers & the Internet.

Question 2

Question 2
What law protects the ‘Freedom of expression’ in the UK?

Answer 2

Article 10 of the ECHR, 1953.

Question 3

Question 3
What does the ‘Freedom of Religion’ ensure?

Answer 3

Protection from discrimination based on religious beliefs.

E.g. Perceived beliefs.

Question 4

Question 4
What law protects ‘Freedom of Religion’ in the UK?

Answer 4

Equality Act 2010, which includes religion as a protected characteristic.

Question 5

Question 5
What does the ‘Freedom of association’ entail?

Answer 5

right to peacefully assemble, join or decline membership of a group.

E.g. Trade Unions.

Question 6

Question 6
What law protects the ‘Freedom of association’ in the UK?

Answer 6

Article 11 of the Human Rights Act 1998.

Question 7

Question 7
What does the ‘Right to Petition’ mean?

Answer 7

Right to complain, signatures can be gathered & people can discuss their grievances on the issue.

Question 8

Question 8
How does the UK petition system work?

Answer 8

• 10,000 signatures = Government must respond.
• 100,000 signatures = Petition considered for Parliamentary debate.

Question 9

Question 9
What law protects the ‘Right to petition’?

Answer 9

Article 11 of the Human Rights Act 1998.

Question 10

Question 10
What does the ‘Right to an Education’ guarantee?

Answer 10

Right to free education up to the age of 16.

Question 11

Question 11
What law protects the ‘Right to an Education’?

Answer 11

Human Rights Act 1998.

Question 12

Question 12
What does the ‘Right to Privacy’ mean?

Answer 12

This protects the right for a private life.

Question 13

Question 13
What does the ‘Right to Privacy’ cover?

Answer 13

Personal, Family life, Home life & Correspondence.

E.g. Letters, Phone calls, Emails, etc.

Question 14

Question 14
What law protects the ‘Right to Privacy’?

Answer 14

Article 5 of the Human Rights Act 1998.

Question 15

Question 15
What law protects the ‘Right to a Fair trial’?

Answer 15

Article 6 of the Human Rights Act 1998.

Question 16

Question 16
What is an example case demonstrating the ‘Right to a Fair trial’?

Answer 16

DG vs. Secretary of State for Work & Pensions (2010), where DG challenged unfair denial of benefits due to poor communication & medical assessment errors

Question 17

Question 17
What does ‘Freedom of Speech’ guarantee?

Answer 17

Right to hold opinions & receive information without interference.

Question 18

Question 18
What laws protect the ‘Right to the Enjoyment of Liberty’?

Answer 18

Gender Recognition Act 2004 & Human Rights Act 1998.

Question 19

Question 19
What is an example of a conflict over the ‘Right to the Enjoyment of Liberty’?

Answer 19

Steven, a young man with autism, was detained in a specialist unit for a year until the Court of Protection ruled the council had deprived him of his right to liberty, ordering his return home.

Question 20

Question 20
What laws protect the ‘Freedom of Speech’?

Answer 20

Human Rights Act 1998, Article 10.

Question 21

Question 21
What is ‘Freedom of speech’?

Answer 21

The right to express one’s opinion without censorship, restraint, or legal penalty.

Question 22

Question 22
What are the arguements for citizens having the Right to ‘Freedom of speech’?

Answer 22

• Allows individuals to express opinions on important issues - E.g. Immigration.
• Considered a basic human right.
• Encourages resilience in individuals.
• Provides opportunities to challenge hate speech.
• Advances society’s knowledge by questioning long-accepted views.

Question 23

Question 23
What are the arguements against citizens having the Right to ‘Freedom of speech’?

Answer 23

• Allows people to express racist & sexist views.
• Can incite violence - E.g. Capitol Hill riots.
• Enables false information to spread unchecked.
• May encourage mob mentality against individuals/groups.
• Reduces willingness to compromise in discussions.

Question 24

Question 24
What is ‘Freedom of religion’?

Answer 24

The right to practice any religion or none, without fear of persecution.

Question 25

Question 25 What are the arguements for citizens having the Right to *'Freedom of religion'*?

Answer 25

* Preserves diversity in a country - E.g. UK allowing religious pluralism. * Encourages cultural coexistence. * Protects individuals from persecution based on their beliefs.

Question 26

Question 26 What are the arguements against citizens having the Right to *'Freedom of religion'*?

Answer 26

* May lead to social discrimination against minority religions. * Can result in civil disabilities being imposed based on religious beliefs. * Could create economic disadvantages for certain religious groups.

Question 27

Question 27 What does the *'Right to the enjoyment of liberty'* entail?

Answer 27

Individuals are free unless imprisoned with lawful justification - E.g. criminal conviction.

Question 28

Question 28 What are the arguements for citizens having *'The Right to the Enjoyment of Liberty'*?

Answer 28

* Reduces violence by ensuring consequences for actions. * Promotes prosperity & longer lifespans. * Expands access to goods & services.

Question 29

Question 29 What are the arguements against citizens having *'The Right to the Enjoyment of Liberty'*?

Answer 29

* Not all individuals can handle unrestricted liberty - E.g. murderers. * May result in increased violence if societal norms are not upheld.

Question 30

Question 30 What are some arguments in favour of Government Restrictions on Citizen Rights?

Answer 30

* Protects the rights of others – Limiting speech can prevent discrimination, ensuring religious freedom. * Prevents riots & violence – Restricting protest rights can avoid chaos, E.g. preventing future riots like those in 2024.

Question 31

Question 31 What are some arguments in Against Government Restrictions on Citizen Rights?

Answer 31

* Preserves individual autonomy – Citizens should have free will to make personal decisions, E.g. Abortion Rights. * Government should not revoke rights once granted – Rights, like education under the Human Rights Act 1998, should remain protected.

Question 32

Question 32 What was the dispute between Johnny Depp & News Group Newspapers Ltd?

Answer 32

The Sun newspaper published an article calling Depp a 'Wifebeater' which he denied, leading him to sue the paper for defamation.

Question 33

Question 33 What was the Sun Newspaper's arguement?

Answer 33

* Claimed their statement was based on truth. * Argued they had the legal right to publish it under freedom of expression.

Question 34

Question 334 What was Johnny Depp's arguement?

Answer 34

* Denied allegations, arguing the claim was false & defamatory. * Accused The Sun of spreading misinformation that harmed his reputation.

Question 35

Question 35 What rights were in conflict during the Sun vs Depp case?

Answer 35

* Depp argued for protection against defamation & false accusations. * The Sun defended their right to freedom of expression in journalism.

Question 36

Question 36 How was the Depp vs the Sun case resolved?

Answer 36

* The court ruled The Sun’s article was 'substantially true'. * Depp was found guilty of 12 of 14 alleged incidents of domestic violence. * The Sun’s right to freedom of expression was upheld in this instance.