There are many kinds of human rights issues. Human rights help create dignity, freedom, equality, justice, and peace. To achieve those goals for everyone, each person's basic rights must be met. We can divide these rights into four categories:

(1) Safety and Security

Political, legal, economic, cultural, and social systems exist that, when combined, give people the building blocks for survival, livelihood, and dignity.

Saftey and security rights include the rights to

• life
• privacy
• education
• health
• work
• asylum
• movement

Safety and security rights include freedom from

• torture
• slavery
• arbitrary arrest

(2) Non-discrimination

All people are entitled to the same human rights without distinction based on race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, or other status.

Non-discrimination rights include rights to

• equality before the law
• nationality
• have a family
• freedom of religion

(3) Accountability

Human rights must be protected by the rule of law. Governments must follow the legal rules in human rights treaties.

Accountability rights include rights to

• a fair trial
• be recognized under the law
• be considered innocent until proven guilty

(4) Participation

Every person has a right to active, free, and meaningful participation in, contribution to, and enjoyment of political, economic, social, and cultural development.

Participation rights include rights to

• vote
• join a union
• participate in the cultural life of a community
• freedom of opinion
• freedom of association

Human rights issues can arise within any of these categories of rights.