ABSTRACT
At the heart of this is a tension within the concept of human rights. It is widely accepted that protection of basic human rights is a good thing. It makes life more bearable. It promotes human dignity. It contributes to a peaceful and stable society. To be effective, though, human rights must be universal. Your entry ticket to the protection of human rights law must come simply from being human, though how particular rights are enjoyed by individuals can be affected by their particular circumstances (e.g. the voting rights of children, prisoners or those with a mental disorder). As a consequence, human rights law can extend protection to individuals who some people may dislike, or hate, or think undeserving of protection.
