Human Rights and Dignity

Human rights are natural rights of all human beings whatever their nationality, religion, ethnicity, sex, language, and
color. We are equally entitled to our human rights without discrimination (www.ohchr.org). Hence, human rights are
inalienable rights that protect our dignity as human beings. There are different kinds of rights people enjoy in a
democratic society, namely:

1. Natural Rights These are rights inherent to man and given to him by God as human being. Examples of these
rights are the right to live, love and be happy.

2. Constitutional Rights. These are the rights guaranteed under the fundamental charter of the country. Examples
of these rights are the rights against unreasonable searches and seizures, the rights against bill of attainder, and
the rights safeguarding the accused under the Bill of Rights

3. Statutory Rights These are rights provided by the lawmaking body of a country or by law, such as the right to
receive a minimum wage and the right to preliminary investigation

4. Civil Rights these are rights specified under the Bill of Rights, such as freedom of speech, right to information.
These are rights enjoyed by an individual by virtue of his citizenship in a state or community

5. Economic Rights these are rights to property, whether personal, real, or intellectual. Some examples of these
rights include the following: right to use and dispose his property, right to practice one's profession, and right to
make a living.

6. Political Rights these are rights an individual enjoys as a consequence of being a member of a body politic. Some
examples of political rights are the following: right to vote and right to be voted into public office

Source: Garcia, Carlito D. (2010). Philippine History and Government for College Students. Mandaluyong City: Books
Atbp. Publishing Corporation

-The protection of the different rights of human beings promotes the notion of human dignity. Dignity of human being is
an essential concept in the society as well as in morality, because through it the quality and honor of the people can be
determined, and from the sense of dignity the concept of human rights can also be measured (http://www.crvp.org).
The knowledge and understanding of individuals of their basic human rights will help in

Identifying their duties and responsibilities as members of society. Likewise, the role of the agents of socialization will
help the each individual to become a productive member of society.