Human rights are a set of values and capabilities that belong to all people, simply because they are human. These rights include the right to live and be safe, the right to freedom and expression, and the right not to be tortured or to be killed. They also include the right to a private life, for example, not being monitored at work or having your emails and CCTV footage kept on file. Human rights are protected by international and national laws and a network of organisations, such as the United Nations, dedicated to monitoring and enforcing these standards worldwide.
The concept of human rights became established after World War II, culminating in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. This declaration outlines fundamental human rights that all countries are encouraged to protect, setting a global standard for humanity.
It enshrines, for the first time, a wide range of civil and political rights, economic, social and cultural rights, all of which are considered to be inalienable (i.e. they cannot be awarded by a human power or surrendered). It is widely accepted that human rights are universal and indivisible, although debates exist around which rights should be considered to be most important, as well as how and whether they can be enforced.
It is widely accepted that rights-holders have responsibilities as well as rights, and that it is important for everyone to understand their rights and how to exercise them effectively. It is also important that states and other duty-bearers comply with the standards enshrined in human rights instruments, and that effective remedies are available for rights-holders when they are breached.