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Law vocabulary · Rights & Obligations

Human rights

Meaning in law, with examples

nounCore term

In law, human rights means: The basic rights and freedoms that every person has simply because they are human, such as the right to life, to a fair trial and to freedom of expression.

In Turkish: insan hakları

How it is used

Used in constitutional and international law and in the news. States 'protect', 'respect' or 'violate' human rights. In Europe the key text is the European Convention on Human Rights, applied by the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. 'Fundamental rights' is a close synonym, especially in EU law.

Example sentences

  1. The applicant claims that his human rights were violated during the investigation.

  2. She teaches human rights law at a university in Ankara.

Common collocations

  • human rights law
  • violation of human rights
  • protect human rights
  • human rights lawyer
  • international human rights
  • rightSomething the law allows you to have or do, or allows you to demand from others, such as the right to a fair trial or the right to be paid.
  • constitutionThe basic set of laws and principles that sets up a state, organises its powers and protects the fundamental rights of its people.
  • due processThe principle that the state must follow fair and proper legal procedures, such as giving notice and a chance to be heard, before taking away a person's rights or property.
  • rule of lawThe principle that everyone, including the government and officials, must follow the law, and that laws are applied fairly by independent courts.
  • constitutional courtA special court that decides whether laws and state actions comply with the constitution and, in many countries, hears individual complaints about rights violations.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Rights & Obligations

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not legal advice.