Human rights are important in the relationships that exist between individuals and the government that has power over them.
The government exercises power over its people. However, human rights mean that this power is limited. States have to look after the basic needs of the people and protect some of their freedoms.
Human rights are the basic rights and freedoms to which all humans are considered entitled: the right to life, liberty, freedom of thought and expression, and equal treatment before the law, among others. These rights represent entitlements of the individual or group’s vis-B-vis the government, as well as responsibilities of the individual and the government authorities.