Democratically organized countries (where elected representatives in the majority govern) typically have constitutions and policies that stand to protect civil liberties, also known as civil rights or individual rights in accordance with the rule of law. Civil liberties are different in every country but the most common are: the right to privacy, self-defense, freedom of speech, freedom of religion or belief, freedom of assembly and association, and the freedom from unwarranted governmental intrusion.

The first country to establish civil rights for its citizens and for all “men” (humankind) was France in 1789 with “The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen.” That same year, the newly established United States of America adopted the Bill of Rights,... (more)

Democratically organized countries (where elected representatives in the majority govern) typically have constitutions and policies that stand to protect civil liberties, also known as civil rights or individual rights in accordance with the rule of law. Civil liberties are different in every country but the most common are: the right to privacy, self-defense, freedom of speech, freedom of religion or belief, freedom of assembly and association, and the freedom from unwarranted governmental intrusion.

The first country to establish civil rights for its citizens and for all “men” (humankind) was France in 1789 with “The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen.” That same year, the newly established United States of America adopted the Bill of Rights, which were the first ten amendments to the country's ratified Constitution. The English Bill of Rights of 1689 is another example that also complemented the evolution of human rights dating back to the Magna Carta of 1215.

Civil liberties all over the world are threatened on a daily basis due to conflict, changes in government, civil unrest, and shifts in power such as the emergence of global terrorism. The lack of respect for the rule of law undermines protection of civil liberties. In the Unites States and Britain, the political debate around the protection of civil liberties was fundamentally altered because of the events of September 11th, 2001. Unfortunately, governments are increasingly sacrificing not only their citizens’ liberties, but also those of foreign citizens, all in the name of security. Some governments have even gone as far as introducing military tribunals lacking appropriate access to defense counsel. Trials can be conducted in secret and indefinite detention can take place without a trial. While recognizing the climate of unrest, commentators, activists, and legal experts have insisted that security can be enhanced without sacrificing basic civil liberties.

Human rights and civil liberties are not interchangeable terms, but the distinction can be hard to make because the language of rights is similar; however, the principal difference is jurisdictional enforcement. Civil liberties are granted to citizens who fall within national or territorial boundaries. Human rights, as many believe, are rights that should inherently belong to all people regardless of jurisdiction. It is the work of citizens of all ages to learn their rights and to fight for the rights of society's most vulnerable members, because when civil liberties are denied to any one group, it affects everyone. (wiki)