Classification of Human Rights

Human rights can be classified in a number of different ways. One of the most widely used classifications distinguishes two general categories: classic or civil and political rights, and social rights that also include economic and cultural rights.

Classic rights generally restrict the powers of the government in respect of actions affecting the individual and his or her autonomy and confer an opportunity upon people to contribute to the determination of laws and participate in government. They express the possibility of participation of a person in society’s political life, in the formation and realization of State power. Political rights are aimed at strengthening the connection between the citizen and society and the State. That is why they are also called public rights. Political rights include freedom of speech and opinion, the right to access public service, the right to participation in political movements and parties, the right to gather, and freedom of meetings, manifestations, petitions, as well as others.

Social rights require the governments to act in a positive, interventionist manner so as to create the necessary conditions for human life and development. Social and economic rights are aimed at the provision of welfare and the quality of a person’s life. These rights give a person the possibility of self-development in the sphere of production and distribution of benefits; receive guarantees and State defense of economic freedom and social stability. To this group belongs the right to private property, freedom of entrepreneurship, the right to work and the right to rest, the right to succession, right to social security and health protection, and many others.

Cultural rights and freedoms guarantee spiritual development of a human, and help each individual to be spiritual or cultural. The cultural rights include the right of each person to participate in cultural life, the right to social values, the right to free use of archival and library stocks, the right to use one’s native language, the right to development of culture in accordance with one’s national and ethnical identity, etc.

Bibliography:

• http://www.lincoln.edu/criminaljustice/hr/Classification.htm
• http://tandis.odihr.pl/documents/hre-compendium/en/CD%20SEC%203/HRE%20Package%20for%20Schools%20Tajikistan/HRE%20Package%20Textbook%20Tajistkan%20ENG.pdf