Human Rights are Moral Entitlements of All Human Beings

Human rights can be defined as ‘the moral entitlements of all human beings to dignified living, full development of personality and social justice.’(Fernando, L: 2002) Human rights focus mainly on the individual. They are rights one has simply as a human being. Human rights are equal , inalienable and universal. (Donnelly, J. 2003: 10)In cases where a collective of people’s rights are suppressed or denied, group rights have articulated to protect individual rights collectively.

Human Rights are Based on Human Needs

Human needs are the needs we must have in order to lead a full life. (South Asia Human Rights Documentation Centre. 2000: 10) When discussing human needs, it is important to distinguish between human needs and human wants. Our wants are the things which we desire in our lives, but are not essential to our existence. Human Rights do not encompass all our wants, but the needs that are recognized internationally and locally as essential for existence.