Human rights are standards that recognize and protect the dignity of all people. Human rights govern how individuals live in society and among themselves, as well as their relationship with the state and the obligations the state has to them.
Human rights law obliges governments to do certain things and prohibits them from doing others. People also have responsibilities: in exercising their human rights, they must respect the rights of others. No government, group or individual has the right to do anything that violates the rights of others.
Universality and inalienability
Human rights are universal and inalienable. All people around the world are entitled to them. No one can voluntarily give them up. Nor can others take them away from him or her.
Indivisibility
Human rights are indivisible. Whether civil, political, economic, social or cultural in nature, they are all inherent in the dignity of every human being. Consequently, they all have equal status as rights. There is no such thing as a “small” right. There is no hierarchy of human rights.
Interdependence and interconnection
The realization of one right often depends, in whole or in part, on the realization of others. For example, the realization of the right to health may depend on the realization of the right to education or the right to information.
Equality and non-discrimination
All persons are equal as human beings and by virtue of the inherent dignity of each human person. All human beings are entitled to their human rights without discrimination of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, ethnicity, age, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, disability, property, birth or other status.
Participation and inclusion
Everyone and all peoples have the right to active, free and meaningful participation in, and to benefit from, civil, political, economic, social and cultural development, through which human rights and fundamental freedoms can be realized.
Accountability and the rule of law
States and other duty bearers must comply with the legal norms and standards enshrined in human rights instruments. If they fail to do so, affected rights holders have the right to initiate proceedings for appropriate redress before a competent court or other tribunal in accordance with the rules and procedures provided by law.