What Are Human Rights?
Human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, regardless of race, sex, nationality,
ethnicity, language, religion, or any other status. Human rights include the right to life and
liberty, freedom from slavery and torture, freedom of opinion and expression, the right to work
and education, and many more. Everyone is entitled to these rights, without discrimination.
Human rights refer to the fundamental rights and freedoms that are inherently
possessed by all individuals, regardless of their nationality, ethnicity, gender, religion, or
any other distinguishing characteristic. These rights are considered universal, inalienable,
and indivisible, forming the foundation of human dignity, equality, and justice. The
concept of human rights is enshrined in various international documents and treaties to
ensure their recognition and protection.
Human Rights Conventions
A series of international human rights treaties and other instruments adopted since 1945 have
expanded the body of international human rights law. They include the Convention on the
Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (1948), the International Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (1965), the Convention on the Elimination of
All Forms of Discrimination against Women (1979), the Convention on the Rights of the Child
(1989) and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006), among others.
The Human Rights Council, established on 15 March 2006 by the General Assembly and
reporting directly to it, replaced the 60-year-old UN Commission on Human Rights as the key
UN intergovernmental body responsible for human rights. The Council is made up of 47 State
representatives and is tasked with strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights
around the globe by addressing situations of human rights violations and making
recommendations on them, including responding to human rights emergencies.
Here are some of the core ideas behind human rights:
Universal: They apply to everyone.
Inherent: They're part of being human, you don't need to earn them.
Indivisible: All the rights are connected and important.
Inalienable: No one can take them away from you.
