Rights are often divided into different categories such as first, second and third generation rights, or civil and political rights, socio-economic rights and collective and cultural rights. But while it may be convenient to put these rights in categories, in reality they all overlap with each other and are completely interdependent. So, even if a single right seems more important than another, they still depend on each other to be effective. For example, for people to be able to use their right to vote effectively, they must have other rights like the right to attend political meetings, to have freedom of speech and to be free to move anywhere. Political rights are also strongly linked to socio-economic rights: if people don’t have food to eat, a roof over their heads or running water then they might see little value in their right to vote or to join a political party.

The three generations of rights are traditionally described as follows:

First generation: civil and political rights and freedoms that everyone is entitled to (examples include the right to life, to vote, freedom of speech, to assemble and demonstrate).

Second generation: social and economic rights that everyone should have, but these rights may only be realised when resources permit (examples include the right to basic services, access to housing, land, health care, education and the right to earn a living).

Third generation: collective rights and cultural rights. These are also called community rights (examples include environmental rights, the right of all people to self-determination and the right to development).