Your rights are related to the values that your society lives by. These values have evolved over generations and draw from religion and philosophy.

 

At the heart of these values are concepts of justice and human dignity.

Values differ between societies. However there are rights that many societies agree upon and seek to uphold such as:

• Equality;

• Freedom from discrimination;

• Right to life;

• Freedom from torture and other cruel and inhumane treatment;

• Right to a fair trial;

• Free speech;

• Freedom of religion; and

• Rights to health, education and an adequate standard of living.

You can think of your rights as what you are entitled to. For example, you have a right to a good education – so governments have an obligation to provide that.