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Subjects · Leaving Cert Politics & Society

Leaving Cert Politics & Society: Human rights principles

How often Human rights principles comes up on the Politics & Society papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

HL Asked on 4 of the last 7 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2024.

OL Asked on 2 of the last 7 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2019.

Human rights principles, Higher Level(6 marks)

Quick ones on Human rights principles.

(a)What does it mean to say human rights are 'inalienable'?
  1. They apply only to citizens of a state
  2. They cannot be taken away or given up
  3. They can be sold, traded or given away
(b)What does it mean to say human rights are 'indivisible'?
  1. No right can ever be restricted
  2. Rights apply to everyone everywhere
  3. All rights are linked and equally important
(c)The right not to be tortured cannot be limited in any circumstances. What kind of right is it?
  1. An absolute right
  2. A limited right
  3. A qualified right
Show the answers

(a) They cannot be taken away or given up

(b) All rights are linked and equally important

(c) An absolute right

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Human rights principles.

Higher Level

Asked on 4 of the last 7 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2024.

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Not asked
2024Q1a
2023Not asked
2022Q3b
2021Not asked
2019Q1a
2018Q1c

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

Ordinary Level

Asked on 2 of the last 7 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2019.

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Not asked
2024Not asked
2023Not asked
2022Not asked
2021Not asked
2019Q1g
2018Q1n

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Human rights principles questions

Human rights principles, 2 marks

What does it mean to say human rights are 'universal'?

  1. They apply only to citizens of UN states
  2. They apply only to adults
  3. They belong to every person everywhere
Show the answer

They belong to every person everywhere

Universal rights apply to everyone whatever their nationality, sex, age or status. Inalienable means they cannot be taken away; indivisible means all are equally important.

Human rights principles, 3 marks

Which is an example of an absolute right?

  1. The right to liberty
  2. Freedom from torture
  3. Freedom of expression
Show the answer

Freedom from torture

Absolute rights can never be limited. Liberty is a limited right (for example, lawful prison sentences). Expression is qualified: it can be balanced against others' rights.

Human rights principles, 3 marks

Which is a positive right?

  1. The right to free primary education
  2. Freedom from torture and cruel treatment
  3. Freedom of religion and belief
Show the answer

The right to free primary education

Positive rights require the state to provide something, like education or healthcare. Negative rights require the state and others not to interfere, like freedom of religion.

Other Politics & Society topics

All of Leaving Cert Politics & Society