Human rights are the rights that everyone should have, regardless of their race, religion, national or social origin, gender, disability, sexual orientation, language or other status.
These rights are inalienable and can never be taken away from a person, no matter what he or she does or how long they live. They are the foundation of democracy and are the basis for a fair society.
The concept of human rights originated with the abolition of slavery in 18th-century Europe and was first formally set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in 1948. The Declaration has become the guiding principle of international law, providing the groundwork for a wide range of other legally binding human rights treaties.
Having human rights means that you are free to enjoy all the freedoms and the responsibilities of being a human being. In other words, you have the right to be happy and safe, and to live a full life without discrimination or harassment.
When we talk about human rights, we are usually talking about the right to live a good life in the manner of your choice and in the way that you feel most comfortable with. This includes the freedom to choose a career, adopt children, decide who you want to marry and even travel.
However, this is not the only way in which we can understand human rights. Other ways in which they can be defined include based on natural law, on a divine mandate or by the legal enactment of laws at the national and international level.
There are many arguments over whether a right can be defined on these grounds, and they often depend on who we think should define them. Traditionally, the idea of human rights has been framed in terms of a God-given normative status.
This approach has some validity, but it is also a fundamentalism. While it is true that international diplomats and others have been important in identifying the rights that are recognised as human rights, they cannot be considered the most authoritative guides to what human rights are.
Moreover, while a right may be recognised as a human right in international law, it does not mean that it has become a moral or legal obligation for the individual. In fact, in most cases, the government that signs up to an international agreement has a responsibility to ensure that a particular right is protected.
Another way to think about human rights is to see them as the fundamental ethical standards that guide all human action. These are the standards that a state should aim to uphold in its internal and external affairs. These include the rule of law, the protection of privacy and the observance of basic human rights such as the right to freedom of expression and the right to be treated with dignity and respect.