Civil & Political Rights

Civil & Political Rights

You’re civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals’ freedom from infringement by governments, social organizations and private individuals, and which ensure one’s ability to participate in the civil and political life of the society and state without discrimination or repression.

Your civil rights include the ensuring of peoples’ physical and mental integrity, life and safety; protection from discrimination on grounds such as race, gender, national origin, colour, ethnicity, religion, or disability; and individual rights such as privacy, the freedoms of thought and conscience, speech and expression, religion, the press, assembly and movement.

Political rights include natural justice (procedural fairness) in law, such as the rights of the accused, including the right to a fair trial; due process; the right to seek redress or a legal remedy; and rights of participation in civil society and politics such as freedom of association, the right to assemble, the right to petition, the right of self-defense, and the right to vote.

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights was adopted by the UN General Assembly with resolution 2200A (XXI) on 16 December 1966, and it entered into force on 23 March 1976.

Your 7 Civil Liberties

• Freedom of speech.
• Freedom of the press.
• Freedom of religion.
• Freedom to vote.
• Freedom against unwarranted searches of your home or property.
• Freedom to have a fair court trial.
• Freedom to remain silent in a police interrogation

Some examples of civil rights violations include:

• Unreasonable searches and seizures.
• Cruel and unusual punishment.
• Losing a job or being passed over for a promotion due to discrimination.
• Abuse by a public official.
• Any discrimination based on a superficial quality or belief.