What is the duty of states to protect individuals from violations of their human rights?

The state of Virginia has a duty to protect individuals from violations of their human rights as stated in the Virginia Declaration of Rights. All laws established in Virginia must be consistent with the Virginia Declaration of Rights and the United States Constitution. The Virginia Declaration of Rights declares that “all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience” and that all people “have certain inherent rights, of which, when they enter into a state of society, they cannot, by any compact, deprive or divest their posterity”. Virginia has also ratified several United Nations human rights treaties, specifically the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. In addition to the obligations under the Virginia Declaration of Rights and UN treaties, the United States Supreme Court has ruled that the Constitution grants individuals the right to protection from human rights violations by the government. The Supreme Court has held that state governments are required to protect citizens against violations of their human rights, regardless of the form of government they use. As a result, the state of Virginia must protect individuals from violations of their human rights by ensuring that laws are consistent with the Virginia Declaration of Rights and UN treaties, and that state officials do not violate individuals’ human rights.

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