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  • We hear a lot about human rights.

  • But what are they?

  • Well, first of all, they're an idea.

  • The idea that we are all born with the same rights and freedoms as human beings.

  • The idea was written down and published by the UN in 1948 in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,

  • which all sounds good.

  • But what does it mean?

  • In reality, it means human rights are protected by international law, and some states have integrated them into their constitution.

  • But human rights are still often ignored or abused across the world.

  • That's because it's hard to enforce these rights or to punish those who abuse them.

  • And not all states share the same values.

  • When states don't protect people's rights, pressure from the international community and NGOs can help.

  • And some cases do end up in international courts.

  • So, where does that leave you?

  • Knowing your rights is the first step to defending them.

We hear a lot about human rights.

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