Human rights are moral principles or norms for certain standards of human behavior, which are regularly protected in municipal and international law
. They are inherent to all human beings, regardless of age, ethnic origin, location, language, religion, or any other status
. Human rights are universal, egalitarian, and require empathy and the rule of law
. They impose an obligation on persons to respect the human rights of others and should not be taken away except as a result of due process based on specific circumstances
. The concept of human rights has been highly influential within international law and global and regional institutions
. The United Nations played a significant role in the development of human rights, with the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, which was the first attempt to set out at a global level the fundamental rights and freedoms shared by all human beings
. The European Convention on Human Rights, adopted in 1950, is another example of a regional human rights treaty that protects the human rights of people in countries that belong to the Council of Europe, including the UK
. Some key aspects of human rights include:
- Inalienable rights : Human rights are inherent to all human beings and cannot be taken away, although they can sometimes be restricted
- Universal and egalitarian : Human rights are applicable everywhere and at every time, and they are the same for everyone
- Emphasis on empathy and rule of law : Human rights require empathy and the rule of law, imposing an obligation on persons to respect the human rights of others
- Due process : Human rights should not be taken away except as a result of due process based on specific circumstances
There is some disagreement about which specific rights should be included within the general framework of human rights, but there is consensus that human rights encompass a wide variety of rights such as the right to a fair trial, protection against enslavement, prohibition of genocide, free speech, and the right to education
