Human rights are universally recognised moral principles and norms that establish standards of behaviour and are often protected by international law. They are based on the idea that everyone has fundamental dignity and equal worth, which should be respected and upheld by society. They include civil and political rights, economic and social rights, as well as cultural and educational rights. They are inalienable, meaning they belong to everyone by virtue of their being human. They cannot be surrendered, although they may be restricted on some grounds, like breaking the law or in the interests of national security.
Born out of the atrocities of World War II, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the United Nations in 1948 and has been a leading influence on laws and treaties around the world that seek to protect human rights. It has also been the inspiration for a range of UN bodies that investigate allegations of human rights violations by countries.
Many people experience discrimination and even violence based on their real or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. This is often a result of prejudice and ignorance about the existence and importance of these rights. In response to this, the government has introduced new legislation to protect LGBTI people from hate crime.
The UDHR and other treaties, such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, have established accountability mechanisms by which countries must report on their human rights record. This includes reporting to the UN Human Rights Council and the Human Rights Committee.