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“Human rights are not a privilege conferred by government. They are every human being's entitlement by virtue of his humanity”
Human rights are the basic freedoms and protections that belong to every person, simply by virtue of being human. They include civil and political rights—like freedom of expression, the right to a fair trial, and protection from torture—as well as social and economic rights, such as the right to education, health, housing, and work.
These rights are recognized in international treaties such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and regionally through frameworks like the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) or the American Convention on Human Rights. While these treaties are aspirational in nature, many countries incorporate them into their own legal systems, giving individuals a way to challenge rights violations in court.
Public interest law refers to legal work that is carried out not for private gain, but for the greater good of society. It focuses on cases that affect marginalized or disadvantaged groups and often involves challenging laws, policies, or corporate practices that cause harm.
This can include:
Lawyers working in the public interest are often involved in strategic litigation—cases chosen not just to help one person, but to set legal precedents that can benefit many. These cases help to shape the law, making it more just, inclusive, and accountable.
Human rights and public interest law are deeply connected. Many public interest cases rely on human rights principles to argue that the state has failed to protect people’s dignity and freedoms.
For example:
Human rights provide the moral and legal framework, while public interest law puts that framework into action—through litigation, advocacy, legal reform, and community engagement.
In an age of rising inequality, environmental crisis, and political polarization, the role of human rights and public interest law has never been more urgent. From defending protestors’ rights to holding corporations accountable for pollution, these legal tools ensure that the law is not just a system of control—but a force for fairness and humanity.
Importantly, these areas of law also ensure that vulnerable and marginalized communities are not left behind. Whether it’s fighting to secure clean water in underserved areas, or defending migrant families from unlawful deportation, public interest and human rights law speak for those often ignored by mainstream power structures.
Despite their importance, both fields face significant challenges:
The law is not neutral. It can be used to uphold injustice or to dismantle it. Human rights and public interest law remind us that legal systems should serve people—not just power. They hold governments, corporations, and institutions to account, and offer a path toward dignity, equity, and justice.
Whether you're a lawyer, student, activist, or simply someone who believes in fairness, understanding these areas of law can help you see the bigger picture—and maybe even be part of the change.