Human rights are the basic rights and freedoms that belong to every person in the world, from
birth until
death.
Human rights are universal, inalienable, indivisible, and interdependent; they belong to everyone by
virtue of their humanity, regardless of their background, and are fundamental to freedom, dignity, and
peace. Universality means all people are born with these rights, inalienability means they cannot be taken
away, and indivisibility/interdependence means all rights are equal and linked, so one cannot be fully
enjoyed without the others.
Civic rights, also known as civil rights, are legal guarantees provided by a government to its citizens for
equal treatment and protection under the law, ensuring fair social opportunities and participation in the
political process. These rights are typically enshrined in a country's constitution and laws, such as the right
to vote, a fair trial, freedom of expression, and freedom from discrimination based on characteristics like
race, religion, or gender.
Economic rights are fundamental human rights that ensure access to resources and services for a dignified
life, encompassing rights to adequate food, housing, health, education, work, and social security. Often
grouped with social and cultural rights, they require governments to actively take steps to protect and
provide these essentials for their citizens, ensuring economic security and the ability to fully participate in
society.
Political rights are fundamental human rights that ensure an individual's ability to participate in the civil
and political life of their country, including the right to vote, hold public office, assemble freely, and form
or join political organizations. These rights, often grouped with civil rights, protect against government
infringement and are essential for democratic societies, as outlined in international documents like the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
Human rights can be categorized in several ways, most commonly by generation (historically) and by the
type of obligation they place on a government (analytically). While these classifications are useful for
understanding the evolution and nature of human rights, it is important to remember that all rights are
indivisible and interdependent.
By generation
This categorization scheme reflects the historical emergence of different human rights concepts.
First-generation rights: Civil and political rights
Inspired by the principles of liberté (liberty), these rights protect individual freedoms and shield citizens
from abuse of power by the state.
Examples:
Freedom of speech and expression
Freedom of religion and conscience
The right to a fair trial
The right to vote and participate in government
The right to life and liberty
Freedom from torture, slavery, and arbitrary arrest
Second-generation rights: Economic, social, and cultural rights
Reflecting the principle of égalité (equality), these rights promote socio-economic equality and a decent
standard of living for all. They place an active obligation on governments to fulfill them for their citizens.
Examples:
The right to an adequate standard of living, including food, clothing, and housing
The right to social security and healthcare
The right to work and to favorable working conditions
The right to education
The right to take part in cultural life
Third-generation rights: Solidarity rights
Based on the principle of fraternité (brotherhood), these are collective or group rights that address global
challenges and the idea of international solidarity. They are often considered "soft law" and are more
debated than the first two generations.
Examples:
The right to self-determination
The right to a healthy environment
The right to economic and social development
The right to peace
By type of obligation
This classification focuses on the role of the state in respecting and fulfilling rights.
Negative rights (freedom from)
These rights require the government and others to refrain from interfering with individual freedoms.
Example: The right to freedom of speech imposes a duty on the government not to censor expression.
First-generation rights are generally viewed as negative rights.
Positive rights (freedom to)
These rights place an active duty on the government or society to provide individuals with certain goods,
services, or opportunities.
Example: The right to an education obligates the government to provide accessible schooling. Second-
generation rights are considered positive rights.
Interdependence of positive and negative rights
While this distinction seems clear-cut, many human rights have both positive and negative aspects. For
example, ensuring freedom of assembly (a negative right) also requires police protection and legal systems
(positive actions) to facilitate it.
