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The importance of rights equality in our society cannot be overstated. It serves as the cornerstone for fostering a fair and just community where every individual is valued and treated with dignity, irrespective of their background, race, gender, religion, or any other characteristic. Upholding rights equality ensures that all members have equal opportunities to access education, employment, healthcare, and justice. It cultivates a sense of belonging and inclusivity, nurturing a society where diversity is celebrated and where everyone can contribute their unique perspectives and talents without fear of discrimination or prejudice. Rights equality not only promotes social harmony but also advances progress and innovation by harnessing the collective potential of all individuals, creating a more prosperous and thriving society for generations to come.

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Who has a responsibility to protect human rights?

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Who has a responsibility to protect human rights?

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A person’s ability to enjoy their human rights depends on other people respecting those rights. This means that human rights involve responsibility and duties towards other people and the community.
Individuals have a responsibility to ensure that they exercise their rights with consideration for the rights of others. For example, when someone uses their right to freedom of speech, they should do so without interfering with someone else’s right to privacy.

Governments have a particular responsibility to ensure that people are able to enjoy their rights. They are required to establish and maintain laws and services that enable people to enjoy a life in which their rights are respected and protected.

For example, the right to education says that everyone is entitled to a good education. This means that governments have an obligation to provide good quality education facilities and services to their people.
Whether or not governments actually do this, it is generally accepted that this is the government's responsibility and people can call them to account if they fail to respect or protect their basic human rights.

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Human rights cover virtually every area of human activity.

They include civil and political rights, which refer to a person’s rights to take part in the civil and political life of their community without discrimination or oppression. These include rights and freedoms such as the right to vote, the right to privacy, freedom of speech and freedom from torture.

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They also include economic, social and cultural rights, which relate to a person’s rights to prosper and grow and to take part in social and cultural activities. This group includes rights such as the right to health, the right to education and the right to work.

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One of the main differences between these two groups of rights is that, in the case of civil and political rights, governments must make sure that they, or any other group, are not denying people access to their rights, whereas in relation to economic, social and cultural rights, governments must take active steps to ensure rights are being fulfilled.

As well as belonging to every individual, there are some rights that also belong to groups of people. This is often in recognition of the fact that these groups have been disadvantaged and marginalised throughout history and consequently need greater protection of their rights. These rights are called collective rights. For example, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples possess collective rights to their ancestral lands, which are known as native title rights.

Rights that can only apply to individuals, for example the right to a fair trial, are called individual rights.