Human rights

Human rights are the basic rights and freedoms to which all individuals are entitled, regardless of nationality, sex, ethnicity, religion, language, or any other status. These rights include the right to life and liberty, freedom from slavery and torture, freedom of opinion and expression, the right to work and education, and many more. Everyone is entitled to these rights, without discrimination.

History of Human Rights

The concept of human rights has existed under several names in European philosophy since the age of Enlightenment, but the modern concept of human rights developed during the early Modern period, alongside the European secularization of Judeo-Christian ethics. The true forerunner of human rights discourse was the concept of natural rights which appeared as part of the medieval Natural law tradition that became prominent during the Enlightenment with such philosophers as John Locke, Francis Hutcheson, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau.

Types of Human Rights

Human rights can be classified in a number of different ways. Some rights may be classified as natural rights, in that they are justified by basic human nature, while others are classified as legal rights, in that they are recognized and protected by the legal system. Some examples of human rights include:

• Right to life: The right to life is the belief that a being has the right to live and, in particular, should not be killed by another entity including government.
• Freedom of speech: Freedom of speech is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or a community to articulate their opinions and ideas without fear of retaliation, censorship, or legal sanction.
• Right to education: The right to education has been recognized as a human right in a number of international conventions, including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights which recognizes a right to free, compulsory primary education for all.

Human Rights Violations

A human rights violation is the disallowance of the basic human rights to which all people are entitled. Human rights violations can occur as a result of political activity, as part of a systematic campaign of violence, or even during times of war.

See Also

• Universal Declaration of Human Rights
• Human Rights Act 1998
• European Convention on Human Rights
• United Nations Human Rights Council

References

Human rights Resources
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