HUMAN RIGHTS AND STATE SOVEREIGNTY VIS-A-VIS PRINCIPLES OF SELF-DETERMINATION IN INTERNATIONAL LAW

Abstract

Human rights are those rights that are inherent to all human beings, regardless of race, sex, religion, nationality, ethnicity, language or any other status. All human rights are indivisible, interdependent and interrelated. The right to self-determination is recognized under international human rights law as the right of all peoples including indigenous peoples to freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development. On the other hand, sovereignty entails the exclusive right of a state to rule over its internal affairs without interference. The paper examined the concept of human rights and the right to self-determination. The paper seeks to x-ray the principles of human rights and sovereignty in international law vis-à-vis the legality and viability of agitations for self-determination. It was found that prior to the colonization of Africa; different tribal, ethnic or indigenous peoples existed, operated and lived independently in somewhat well-organized political empires. The doctrinal method of legal research was employed. The primary source includes Acts, Laws and Statutes while the secondary sources are case laws, journal articles, international conventions etc. Human rights are fundamentally concerned with the relations between states and their nationals. Among other things, this paper recommended that states must effectively protect the human rights of its citizens in order to maintain its legitimacy and sovereignty.