Civil and political rights are fundamental human rights that pertain to the individual’s freedom, autonomy, and participation in society and government. They include the right to life, liberty, and security of person, freedom of expression, assembly, and association, the right to participate in the political process through voting and holding public office, the right to a fair trial and due process of law, and protection against discrimination and arbitrary treatment by the government.
Civil and political rights are considered as the first generation of rights. These rights emerged in the late 18th and 19th centuries during the Enlightenment and have historically been associated with individual freedoms and limiting government interference in people’s lives.