Human rights are a set of principles concerned with equality and fairness that recognize our freedom to make choices about our lives and to develop our potential as human beings. They are universal and inalienable, meaning that everyone is born with and possesses them. Human 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. They are based on shared values like dignity, fairness, equality, respect, and independence, which are defined and protected by law. Human rights are indivisible, meaning that all human rights have equal status and cannot be positioned in a hierarchical order. States and other duty-bearers are answerable for the observance of human rights, and individuals, the media, civil society, and the international community play important roles in holding governments accountable for their obligation to uphold human rights. Some of the basic human rights include:
- The right to life
- The right to liberty and security of person
- The right to freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment
- The right to freedom from slavery or forced labor
- The right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion
- The right to freedom of opinion and expression
- The right to peaceful assembly and association
- The right to education
- The right to work and to just and favorable conditions of work
- The right to an adequate standard of living, including food, clothing, housing, and medical care
These rights apply to every person in the world, regardless of nationality, sex, national or ethnic origin, religion, language, or any other status.
