Human Rights Education A Manual for National Human Rights Institutions Chapter 1: Human rights: An overview 2 KEY QUESTIONS • What are human rights? • Where do human rights come from? • What are the significant international human rights instruments and what human rights do they cover? • What are the formal human rights obligations of the State? Recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.1 1.1. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF HUMAN RIGHTS3 Human rights are said to be inherent, inalienable and universal. They are inherent, in that they belong to every person because of their common humanity. They are inalienable, in that people cannot give them up or be deprived of them. They are universal, in that they apply regardless of who someone may be. Human rights are the basic rights and freedoms to which all humans are entitled. They determine how individual human beings live in society and with each other, as well as their relationship with the State and the obligations that the State has towards them. Human rights require that everyone is equally entitled to their human rights without discrimination. They set out the basis for the relationship between the governed and those who govern. Human rights aim to recognize and protect the dignity of all human beings whatever their status or condition in life. Human rights are universal and inalienable Human rights are founded on respect for the dignity and worth of each and every person. They are the rights of all people. Human rights should not be taken away, except in specific situations such as when someone breaks the law, and only then according to due process. 2 2 Universal Declaration of Human Rights; preamble. 3 OHCHR. What are human rights? Available online at www.ohchr.org/en/issues/Pages/WhatareHumanRights.aspx and SPC Regional Rights Resource Team (2017), The Building blocks of human rights available online at www.youtube.com/ watch?v=RLxhQk1gduM (3.50).