Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal (applicable everywhere) and egalitarian (the same for everyone). These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national and international law. The doctrine of human rights in international practice, within international law, global and regional institutions, in the policies of states and the activities of non-governmental organizations has been a cornerstone of public policy around the world. It has been said that: "if the public discourse of peacetime global society can be said to have a common moral language, it is that of human rights." Despite this, the strong claims made by the doctrine of human rights continue to provoke considerable skepticism and debates about the content, nature and justifications of human rights continue to this day. Indeed, the question of what is meant by a "right" is itself controversial and the subject of continued philosophical debate.

Many of the basic ideas that animated the movement developed in the aftermath of the Second World War and the atrocities of the Holocaust, culminating in the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Paris by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948. The ancient world did not possess the concept of universal human rights. Ancient societies had "elaborate systems of duties... conceptions of justice, political legitimacy, and human flourishing that sought to realize human dignity, flourishing, or well-being entirely independent of human rights". The modern concept of human rights developed during the early Modern period, alongside the European secularization of Judeo-Christian ethics. The true forerunner of human rights discourse was the concept of natural rights which appeared as part of the medieval Natural law tradition, became prominent during the Enlightenment with such philosophers as John Locke, Francis Hutcheson, and Jean-Jacques Burlamaqui, and featured prominently in the political discourse of the American Revolution and the French Revolution.

From this foundation, the modern human rights movement emerged over the latter half of the twentieth century. Gelling as social activism and political rhetoric in many nations put it high on the world agenda.

—Article 1 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)

Adjective

right (comparative righter, superlative rightest)

1. (archaic) Straight, not bent.
2. Of an angle, having a size of 90 degrees, or one quarter of a complete rotation; the angle between two perpendicular lines.

   The kitchen counter formed a right angle with the back wall.

3. Complying with justice, correctness or reason; correct, just, true.

   I thought you'd made a mistake, but it seems you were right all along.

4. Appropriate, perfectly suitable; fit for purpose.

   Is this the right software for my computer?

5. Healthy, sane, competent.

   I'm afraid my father is no longer in his right mind.

6. Designating the side of the body which is positioned to the east if one is facing north. This arrow points to the right: →

   After the accident, her right leg was slighly shorter than her left.

7. (archaic, sometimes used in titles) To a great extent or degree.

   Sir, I am right glad to meet you...

   Members of the Queen's Privy Council are styled The Right Honourable for life.

   The Right Reverend Monsignor Guido Sarducci

8. (Politics) Pertaining to the political right; conservative.
9. (Australian) All right; not requiring assistance
   • 1986 David Williamson, "What If You Died Tomorrow," Collected plays, Volume 1, Currency Press, p310

     KIRSTY: I suppose you're hungry. Would you like something to eat? / KEN: No. I'm right, thanks.

   • 2001 Catherine Menagé, Access to English, National Centre for English Language Teaching and Research, NSW: Sydney, p25

     When the sales assistant sees the customer, she asks Are you right, sir? This means Are you all right? She wants to know if he needs any help.

   • 2001 Morris Gleitzman, Two weeks with the Queen, Pan Macmillan Australia, p75

     'You lost?' / Colin spun round. Looking at him was a nurse, her eyebrows raised. / 'No, I'm right, thanks,' said Colin.

• (correctness): correct, just
• (side, direction): dexter, dextral, right-hand
• (politics): conservative, right-wing
• (as a tag question): see Appendix:English tag questions

• Affirmative Action (25)
• Aiding Abusers (2)
• Chemical Castration@ (10)
• Civil Liberties@ (50)
• Death Penalty@ (102)
• Fathers' Rights@ (86)
• Forfeiture@ (18)
• Free Speech (66)
• Freedom of the Press (11)
• Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Rights@ (63)
• Human Trafficking@ (22)
• Parents' Rights@ (13)

• Police Misconduct@ (17)
• Political Prisoners (18)
• Population Control@ (69)
• Prenatal Rights (3)
• Privacy (52)
• Property Rights@ (44)
• Refugee Rights (25)
• War Crimes@ (110)
• War on Terrorism@ (19)
• Women's Rights@ (64)
• Workers Rights@ (95)
• Youth Rights@ (26)

• Advocacy Organizations (179)
• Business-Related@ (31)
• News and Media (18)
• Official Texts (4)

• Regional (565)

• Look Into My I :The Freedom Paintings
  angelfire.com
  Rebecca Barrington's plea for privacy in the public sector. Eight powerful freedom paintings from the LuLu Eccentrix Art Gallery depicting the loss of freedom.
• For the Record: The UN Human Rights System
  hri.ca
  Country-by-country summary of the work of UN human rights mechanisms.
• Human and Constitutional Rights
  hrcr.org
  Includes constitutional rights charts, links to human rights and constitutional rights websites, news, and resources.

• Usenet soc.rights.human - news: - Google Groups