Human Rights - Lesson 1

What do we call fundamental rights considered to belong to every person regardless of age, race, gender, nationality or religion?

What are legal rights?

• Rights set out in common law or legislation

• Rights lawyers have

What are moral rights?

• Rights that are prescribed by state law

• Rights that are understood to exist in society and are in some ways formally binding on us, e.g. the right to die

• Rights that are prescribed by a king or queen

In what circumstances can human rights be limited?

• When two rights are competing and one has to outweigh the other, e.g. limiting the right to freedom of a convicted criminal.

• When Governments limit freedoms in the interest of public health

• When Governments limit freedoms due to a national disaster

What are customary rights?

• Rights that originate from long-established customs and traditions.

• Rights particular to a certain socio-cultural group

• Customary rights have no legal basis.