What is the difference between civil rights and human rights?
Human rights and civil rights are both important protections for individuals, but they are two distinct concepts with some notable differences. Human rights are basic rights that all human beings are entitled to, regardless of citizenship, gender, race, faith, or any other factor. Human rights are inalienable, meaning they are not given by a government or any other body, but instead should be respected by all. All human rights are listed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which was established by the United Nations in 1948. The main human rights people are naturally entitled to are the right to life, freedom of opinion and expression, and the right to seek and enjoy asylum. Civil rights, on the other hand, are rights that are granted by a government or other authority. They often refer to rights that are granted to an individual by a state or country they are citizens of. In Virginia, civil rights include the right to vote, the right to a fair trial, the right to free speech and assembly, and the right to marry and start a family. Civil rights are usually granted and protected through federal, state, or local laws. The key difference between the two is that human rights are fundamental rights that every person is entitled to, regardless of where they live or their identity, whereas civil rights are rights that are given to people by a governing body based on their national citizenship.
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