: violation of the basic rights of people by treating them wrongly The government has been accused of human rights abuses.

Key socioeconomic challenges include high rates of poverty, social inequality, unemployment, and public service access disparities—problems that disproportionately affect blacks. Unequal access to land is a notably sensitive issue.

A few examples of violations of economic, social and cultural rights include:

• Forcibly evicting people from their homes (the right to adequate housing)
• Contaminating water, for example, with waste from State-owned facilities (the right to health)

If your rights were violated by a government official such as a police officer or public school administrator, you may be able to bring a suit under Section 1983 of the U.S. Code. That section allows a citizen to bring a lawsuit against government employees or entities for violation of any constitutional right.

If the court thinks the way the decision was made is wrong – for example, because it breaches your human rights – it can cancel the decision and tell the public authority to make the decision again. This is called a quashing order. The court can also give you financial compensation if you’ve suffered a loss.

You can take a case to court under the Human Rights Act if you are claiming that a public authority, such as a local authority, the police or the NHS, has violated one or more of your human rights. You may also be able to make a claim against other bodies carrying out public functions.

Human rights are the basic rights and freedoms that belong to every person in the world, from birth until death. They apply regardless of where you are from, what you believe or how you choose to live your life.

The 30 rights and freedoms set out in the UDHR include the right to asylum, the right to freedom from torture, the right to free speech and the right to education. It includes civil and political rights, like the right to life, liberty, free speech and privacy.