Every person has dignity and value. One of the ways that
we recognize the fundamental worth of every person is by acknowledging and
respecting their human rights. Human rights are a set of principles
concerned with equality and fairness. They recognize our freedom to make
choices about our lives and to develop our potential as human beings. They are
about living a life free from fear, harassment or discrimination.
Human rights can broadly be defined as a number of basic
rights that people from around the world have agreed are essential. These
include the right to life, the right to a fair trial, freedom from torture and
other cruel and inhuman treatment, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and
the rights to health, education and an adequate standard of living.
These human rights are the same for all people everywhere – men and women, young and old, rich and poor, regardless of our background, where we live, what we think or what we believe. This is what makes human rights ‘universal’.
In order to live with dignity certain basic rights and freedoms are necessary, which all Human beings are entitled to, these basic rights are called Human Rights Human rights demand recognition and respect for the inherent dignity to ensure that everyone is protected against abuses which undermine their dignity, and give the opportunities they need to realize their full potential, free from discrimination.
Human rights include civil and political rights, such as: