Human rights are a set of principles that recognise that every person is born free and equal in dignity and worth, and that all individuals have certain fundamental freedoms. These include the right to life, liberty and security of person; the right to freedom of opinion and expression; the right to private property; the right to a fair trial; and the right not to be tortured or subjected to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. These principles are reflected in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that all people are entitled to these rights without distinction of any kind, including race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, disability, age or property.
These rights are recognised and protected by international treaties at global, regional and national levels, including the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and their Optional Protocols. These legal instruments establish a framework that lawyers can use to defend their clients against violations of their rights.
However, critics of human rights have argued that the principles are not universal and may conflict with cultural or traditional practices. One example of this is female genital mutilation, which takes place in many cultures around the world, but is widely considered to be a violation of women’s and girls’ human rights. The concept of human rights empowers people and tells them that they deserve dignity from society, and if they don’t receive it, they can stand up for their rights.
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