Human rights are basic rights and freedoms that belong to every person in the world, from birth until death. These rights are inherent to us all, regardless of nationality, sex, national or ethnic origin, color, religion, language, or any other status. Human rights are moral principles or norms for certain standards of human behavior and are regularly protected in municipal and international law. The idea that human beings should have a set of basic rights and freedoms has deep roots in Britain. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948 and is a milestone document in the history of human rights. The UDHR sets out a common standard of fundamental human rights to be universally protected and has been translated into over 500 languages. Some examples of human rights include:
-
Right to life: Everyone has the right to life, liberty, and security of person.
-
Freedom of expression: Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship, and observance.
-
Right to education: Everyone has the right to education.
-
Right to a fair trial: Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.
Human rights are relevant to all of us, not just those who face repression or mistreatment. They protect us in many areas of our day-to-day life, including our right to have and express our own opinions, our right to a private and family life, and our right not to be mistreated or wrongly punished by the state.
