What are human rights?

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What are
What are human rights? Topics Countries Instruments & mechanisms Latest About us Get Involved

human
rights?
Human rights are inherent to us all,
regardless of nationality, sex, national
or ethnic origin, color, religion,
language, or any other status...

Human rights are rights we have simply

WHAT ARE HUMAN because we exist as human beings - they Related
RIGHTS are not granted by any state. These

Human Rights 75 Initiative universal rights are inherent to us all, Stand up

regardless of nationality, sex, national or for human
The Universal Declaration of
Human Rights ethnic origin, color, religion, language, or rights
any other status. They range from the
Human rights day
The 30
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What are human rights? | OHCHR 23/10/23, 10:24 PM

Human rights day

The 30
most fundamental - the right to life - to
International Bill of Human articles of
those that make life worth living, such as
Rights
the UDHR
the rights to food, education, work, health,
Economic, social and cultural
and liberty.
rights 30 articles

The Universal Declaration of Human about the 30

Rights (UDHR), adopted by the UN Articles

General Assembly in 1948, was the first

The
legal document to set out the
Declaration in
fundamental human rights to be
more than
universally protected. The UDHR, which
500
turned 70 in 2018, continues to be the
languages
foundation of all international human
rights law. Its 30 articles provide the Two
principles and building blocks of current Covenants
and future human rights conventions, 50th
treaties and other legal instruments. Anniversary

The UDHR, together with the 2 covenants - Short videos

the International Covenant for Civil and on human
Political Rights, and the International rights and
Covenant for Economic, Social and treaty bodies
Cultural Rights - make up the International
Bill of Rights. Are
economic,
social and

Universal and political

rights

inalienable different from

civil and

The principle of universality of human political

rights is the cornerstone of international rights?

human rights law. This means that we are

International
all equally entitled to our human rights.
human rights
This principle, as first emphasized in the
law
UDHR, is repeated in many international
human rights conventions, declarations,
and resolutions.

Human rights are inalienable. They should

not be taken away, except in specific

situations and according to due process.

For example, the right to liberty may be
restricted if a person is found guilty of a
crime by a court of law.

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What are human rights? | OHCHR 23/10/23, 10:24 PM

© UNICEF/UNI220918/Orozco

Indivisible and
interdependent
All human rights are indivisible and
interdependent. This means that one set
of rights cannot be enjoyed fully without
the other. For example, making progress
in civil and political rights makes it easier
to exercise economic, social and cultural
rights. Similarly, violating economic, social
and cultural rights can negatively affect
many other rights.

Equal and non-

discriminatory
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What are human rights? | OHCHR 23/10/23, 10:24 PM

Article 1 of the UDHR states: “All human beings are

born free and equal in dignity and rights.” Freedom from
discrimination, set out in Article 2, is what ensures this
equality.

Non-discrimination cuts across all international human

rights law. This principle is present in all major human
rights treaties. It also provides the central theme of 2
core instruments: the International Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, and
the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
© EPA/Alanah M. Torralba. Discrimination against Women.

Both rights and

obligations
All States have ratified at least 1 of the 9 core human rights treaties,
as well as 1 of the 9 optional protocols. Eighty per cent of States have
ratified 4 or more. This means that States have obligations and duties
under international law to respect, protect and fulfill human rights.

The obligation to respect means that States must refrain from

interfering with or curtailing the enjoyment of human rights.

The obligation to protect requires States to protect individuals and

groups against human rights abuses.

The obligation to fulfill means that States must take positive

action to facilitate the enjoyment of basic human rights.

Meanwhile, as individuals, while we are entitled to our human rights –

but, we should also respect and stand up for the human rights of
others.

Get Involved & Stand Up for

Human Rights
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What are human rights? | OHCHR 23/10/23, 10:24 PM

Human Rights

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