THE RIGHT TO HEALTH IN PRISON: RESULTS OF A NATIONWIDE SURVEY AND REPORT CHAPTER 2: HUMAN RIGHTS AND PRISONS Introduction 2.1 This Chapter discusses the fundamental right to health as defined in domestic and international law, and the instruments that are frequently referred to in ensuring that the rights of prisoners to realise the highest attainable standard of health are respected. 2.2 The right to health as articu lated within the United Nations and ASEAN are also discussed, and the minimum legal obligations of the Government in order to remain compliant with accepted human rights standards are identified. Basics of Human Rights 2.3 In the simplest of terms, human rights are rights that people have by virtue of being human. Human rights are based on fundamental principles such as dignity, equality, respect, and fairness and go beyond being mere legal or political commitments. Simply put, all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. 2.4 Human rights include the right to life, the right to own property, the right to education, the right to clean drinking water, the right to health, the right to vote, the right to work and so on. 11