Human rights are moral principles or norms that establish standards of behaviour and protect people from violations of their fundamental freedoms. They apply to all persons and encompass civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights. They are considered inherent and inalienable, meaning that they belong to every person by virtue of being a human being and cannot be surrendered. Human rights are based on the principles that all individuals are born free and equal in dignity and worth, and that everyone has a right to life, liberty and security of person. They also include a right to participation in society and culture, a right to education, a right to work, and the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of a person.
The term ‘human rights’ is relatively new, having replaced the phrase natural rights in the aftermath of World War II, the founding of the United Nations and its adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in 1948. The UDHR was the first international document to articulate the notion that the primary duty of all governments is to respect and protect human rights. It has since inspired the drafting of more than seventy human rights treaties, which are applied on a permanent basis at global and regional levels, and incorporate references to it in their preambles.
Despite the growing number of rights and freedoms enshrined in international law, many human rights problems remain unresolved. Human rights issues can be complex and difficult to address, as they require cooperation between States and other actors, such as private organisations. This requires compromise and mutual respect.
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