Human rights and civil rights
Got sent a summary of a speech to the NZ Initiative by Australian Human Rights Commissioner Tim Wilson. He said:
One. Civil rights are not the same as human rights. Civil rights are the gift of citizenship; human rights are universal and exist from birth.
Two. Social justice is not the same as human rights. Social justice is broadly about advancing social and economic equity; human rights are about uncompromisingly protecting the autonomy of the individual and their enterprise.
Three. Anti-discrimination is not a human right. Anti-discrimination is about removing unjust prejudice; whereas, apart from equality before the law, human rights can actually be exercising discrimination, such as free association.
Four. Group rights cannot be human rights. Group rights cannot be universal to every person; human rights can only exist for individuals. “
I like the distinctions he makes.