(i) Meaning and Classification of Rights: Rights are those social conditions that are necessary for the development of our personality. Laski defines rights as ‘those conditions of social life without which no man can seek, in general, to be himself at his best.
Natural Rights – These rights are universal in character e.g. the right to life and liberty.
Moral Rights – These rights are based on the conscience of the person and the community e.g. respect for elders.
Legal Rights – These rights are granted by the state and are codified in law. These rights are not universal.
Legal rights may be:
Civil rights: related to the person and property of the individual’s right to liberty, equality, property.
Political rights: are available only to citizens in a democratic State and aim to encourage active political participation e.g. the right to vote, to contest elections.
(ii) Legal Rights: These rights refer to rights according to law. These rights are granted by the State to the people and exist differently in different countries. They are justiciable and codified in law. Such rights are neither universal nor inalienable. Legal rights include civil rights and political rights.
(iii) Human Rights: These rights are those rights that we are entitled to simply because we are human beings. Henry Thoreau first described natural rights as human rights. These are basic rights of people anywhere in the world to be free from exploitation, injustice, and want, to lead a dignified existence, and to develop to the fullest extent. The UNO adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on 10th December 1948.
These rights are dynamic i.e. they develop with changing times. UDHR expresses belief in the liberty and equality of human beings and promotes a culture of peace and cooperation. Human rights can be classified as Civil and Political rights – These are liberty-oriented rights like the right to freedom of thought, right to vote, etc. Social, Cultural, and Economic rights – These include the right to social justice, the right to work, etc. Developmental rights – These are linked to the concept of fraternity e.g. right to a healthy environment, right to information. The implementation of human rights requires favorable political, socio-economic conditions. In the absence of such, these rights may be violated or denied as in the case of women, children, displaced persons, minorities, etc.
