1. Civil and political rights

The theory for their existence appeared in 17-18 century. These are 'liberty-orientated' and include the rights to: life, liberty and security of the individual; freedom from torture and slavery; political participation; freedom of opinion, expression, thought, conscience and religion; freedom of association and assembly.

2. Economic and social rights

They are recognized by the international community after the First World War. These are 'security-orientated' rights, for example the rights to: work; education; a reasonable standard of living; food; shelter and health care.

3. Environmental, cultural and developmental rights

They are recognized in the 70-s of the 20-th century. These include the rights to live in an environment that is clean and protected from destruction, and rights to cultural, political and economic development.

• The right to life and to live in freedom and safety;
• The right not to be made or treated as a slave;
• The right not to be hurt or tortured;
• The right to be treated fairly by the law, which should be the same for everyone;
• The right to ask the law to help us if we are not treated fairly;
• The right not to be put in prison without a good reason or to be sent away from our country;
• The right to be tried in public;
• The right not to be blamed for doing something until it is proved that we did it;
• The right to our good name;
• The right to privacy - no one should come into our home, open our letters or bother us or our families without a good reason;
• The right to travel freely in our own country and to go abroad if we wish;
• The right to go to another country if we are frightened of being badly treated in our own country;
• The right to belong to a country;
• The right to marry and have a family;
• The right to own things and not to have these things taken from us without a good reason;
• The right to our beliefs and to have a religion;
• The right to have ideas and say what we think;
• The right to meet other people and assemble in a peaceful way;
• The right take part in the government of our country and the right to vote if we are old enough;
• The right to a home, enough money to live on and health care if we get ill;
• The right to share in the cultural life of our community;
• The right to a job, a fair wage for our work and to join a trade union;
• The right to rest from work, to relax and play;
• The right to a good life and to receive care and support if we need it;
• The right to go to school and to receive free primary education;
• The right to our own way of life and to enjoy the good things that science and learning can bring.

The Declaration also says that everyone must respect the ‘social order' so that we can all enjoy rights and freedoms in our own country and all over the world. We also have a responsibility to respect the rights of other people, the community and public property.

Know your rights.

Respect other people's rights.

Be responsible!

The full text of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Every child has:

• the right to life;
• the right to a name and nationality;
• the right to be with their parents or with those who will
• care for them best;
• the right to have a say about things that affect them;
• the right to have ideas and say what they think;
• the right to practice their religion;
• the right to meet with other children;
• the right to get information they need;
• the right to special care, education and training, if needed;
• the right to health care;
• the right to enough food and clean water;
• the right to free education;
• the right to play;
• the right to speak their own language;
• the right to learn about and enjoy their own culture;
• the right not to be used as a cheap worker;
• the right not to be hurt or neglected;
• the right not to be used as a soldier in wars;
• the right to be protected from danger;
• the right to know about their rights and responsibilities.

Know your rights.

Respect other people's rights.

Be responsible!

The full text of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.