Part A (Q4): What are Human Rights?

Human Rights are the fundamental, inalienable rights and freedoms that belong to every single person in the world simply because they are human beings. They are not granted by any state or ruler, and therefore, they cannot be legitimately taken away by them.

They are based on the principle of respect for the individual and their inherent dignity. These rights are:

• Universal: They apply to everyone, everywhere, regardless of race, gender, nationality, religion, or economic status.
• Inalienable: They cannot be taken away, though they can sometimes be restricted (e.g., if a person breaks the law).
• Indivisible and Interdependent: All human rights are of equal importance. Civil rights (freedom of speech) are meaningless if a person is denied their economic rights (right to food).