Rights

What do we mean when we call something a right?

A right is more than something we want or value. It identifies a claim to freedom, protection or treatment and raises questions about who carries responsibility for respecting or securing it. The Human Constitution uses rights as an ethical lens alongside established human rights. A proposed moral claim, an international standard and a locally enforceable legal right are not interchangeable. Naming which we mean helps prevent false promises.

A question to sit with (optional): What kind of right is being claimed, and who is responsible for respecting or providing it?