The first part of this series explores the historical development of human rights in international law, highlighting both achievements and limitations across milestones such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). These instruments reflect geopolitical inequalities while nonetheless advancing essential protections.

This second part turns to the categories of human rights most relevant to the FiveBecomings (Pañchabhūmi)^[1] projects of the Śramani Institute and examines how these categories can be situated within an integrated framework of interconnected human and ecological wellbeing (ecosymbiotic wellbeing).

Six Categories of Human Rights

The multitude of human rights delineated in various international human rights instruments can be classified into six categories: (1) right to life and dignity, (2) right to livelihood, (3) right to expression of identity, (4) right to self-determination, (5) right to ecological resources, and (6) right to inhabit land.

1. Right to Life and Dignity

In the UDHR^[2], several delineated rights fall under the first category of Right to 'Life and Dignity,' including:

1. the recognition of all humans as born free and equal in dignity and rights (Article 1);
2. the right to life, liberty, and security of person (Article 3); and
3. the right to an adequate standard of living including food, clothing, housing, and medical care (Article 25.1).

In the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)^[3], the following enumerated rights fall into this first 'Right to Life and Dignity' category:

1. the guarantee that rights will be exercised without discrimination of any kind (Article 2.2);
2. the equal right of men and women to enjoy all economic, social, and cultural rights (Article 3);
3. the right to work in freely chosen conditions with just and favorable working conditions (Articles 6 and 7);
4. the right to an adequate standard of living including adequate food, clothing, and housing (Article 11.1);
5. the fundamental right to be free from hunger (Article 11.2);
6. the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health (Article 12.1); and
7. the right to take part in cultural life and enjoy the benefits of scientific progress (Article 15.1). 

In the UNDRIP^[4], rights that align with 'RIght to Life and Dignity' include:

1. the right to the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms (Article 1);
2. equality and freedom from discrimination based on Indigenous origin or identity (Article 2);
3. the rights of Indigenous individuals to life, physical and mental integrity, liberty, and security of person (Article 7.1);
4. the right not to be subjected to forced assimilation or destruction of culture (Article 8.1); and
5. the right to their traditional medicines and health practices (Article 24.1). 

2. Right to Livelihood

In the UDHR, several rights fall under 'Right to Livelihood,' including:

1. the right to work, to free choice of employment, and to just and favorable conditions of work (Article 23.1);
2. the right to equal pay for equal work without discrimination (Article 23.2); and
3. the right to just and favorable remuneration ensuring an existence worthy of human dignity (Article 23.3).

In the ICESCR, rights falling under 'Right to Livelihood' include:

1. the right of all peoples to freely dispose of their natural wealth and resources and not be deprived of their own means of subsistence (Article 1.2); and 
2. the fundamental right to be free from hunger and to improve methods of food production and distribution (Article 11.2).

In the UNDRIP, rights that align with 'Right to Livelihood' include:

1. the right to self-determination and to freely pursue economic, social, and cultural development (Article 3);
2. the right to maintain and develop political, economic, and social systems and to be secure in their own means of subsistence and development (Article 20.1);
3. the right to engage freely in all traditional and other economic activities (Article 20.1);
4. the right to the lands, territories, and resources they have traditionally owned, occupied, or used (Article 26.1);
5. the right to own, use, develop, and control their lands, territories, and resources (Article 26.2);
6. the right to maintain, control, protect, and develop their cultural heritage, traditional knowledge, and traditional cultural expressions including knowledge of fauna and flora (Article 31.1);
7. the right to determine and develop priorities and strategies for the development or use of their lands and resources (Article 32.1); and
8. the right to their traditional medicines and health practices including conservation of vital medicinal plants, animals, and minerals (Article 24.1). 

3. Right to Expression of Identity

In the UDHR, several delineated rights fall under 'Right to Expression of Identity,' including:

1. the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, encompassing the freedom to manifest one's beliefs in practice, worship, and observance (Article 18);
2. the right to freedom of opinion and expression, including the freedom to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media (Article 19);
3. the right to freely participate in the cultural life of the community and to enjoy the arts (Article 27.1); and
4. the right to education directed toward the full development of human personality and strengthening respect for human rights (Article 26.2). 

In the ICESCR, rights falling under 'Right to Expression of Identity' include:

1. the right of all peoples to self-determination and to freely pursue their economic, social, and cultural development (Article 1.1);
2. the guarantee that education shall be directed to the full development of human personality and strengthen respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms (Article 13.1);
3. the right to take part in cultural life (Article 15.1a); and
4. the freedom indispensable for scientific research and creative activity (Article 15.3).

These provisions extend identity expression beyond individual rights to collective cultural development and creative freedom.

In the UNDRIP, rights that align with 'Right to Expression of Identity' include:

1. the right to maintain and strengthen distinct political, legal, economic, social, and cultural institutions while retaining full participation in state life (Article 5);
2. the right to practise and revitalize cultural traditions and customs, including maintaining, protecting, and developing manifestations of their cultures such as ceremonies, technologies, and performing arts (Article 11.1);
3. the right to revitalize, use, develop, and transmit histories, languages, oral traditions, philosophies, writing systems, and literatures (Article 13.1);
4. the right to establish and control educational systems providing education in their own languages and cultural methods (Article 14.1);
5. the right to maintain and strengthen distinctive spiritual relationships with traditionally owned lands and territories (Article 25); and
6. the right to maintain, control, protect, and develop cultural heritage, traditional knowledge, and traditional cultural expressions (Article 31.1). 

Thus, as outlined above, many of the rights enumerated in three of the international human rights instruments can be categorized into one of six categories. This article examines how the rights to life and dignity, livelihood, and expression of identity are articulated across the UDHR, ICESCR, and UNDRIP. The next article in this series elucidates the remaining three categories, namely (4) the right to self-determination, (5) the right to ecological resources, and (6) the right to inhabit land.

[1] K. Mitra, Restoring the Interconnected Wellbeing of Humans and Ecologies Through FiveBecomings, Ecosymbionts all Regenerate Together (EaRTh): DOI-EaRTh082025-010 (26 Aug., 2025).

[2] Universal Declaration of Human Rights, United Nations (1948).

[3] International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, United Nations (1966).

[4] Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, United Nations (2007).