individual rights and freedoms
- noun
- In democratic societies, the protection of individual rights and freedoms is essential for ensuring justice and equality.
And in this country, we prize individual rights and freedoms.
- And in this country, we prize individual rights and freedoms.
Examples
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The government must prioritize individual rights and freedoms to maintain the trust of its citizens.
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Such basic principles as sovereignty, legitimacy, political participation, and pluralism, and those individual rights and freedoms inherent in democracy do not exist in a system where Islam is the ultimate source of law.
Academic text (2007) -
For example, whereas the international movement focuses on individual rights and freedoms, the Arab movement attaches greater importance to collective rights.
Academic text (1990) -
Though we are led to assume that the intent is to protect individual rights and freedoms, there is no way to guarantee that happens, especially since there are no penalties associated with the prohibitions.
Blog text (23) -
Let's hope for the best, and try to adapt for the best, and prepare for the worst (albeit in a manner that respects individual rights and freedoms).
Blog text (17) -
Activists are campaigning for increased awareness and protection of individual rights and freedoms in their communities.
Synonyms
The right to act, speak, or think as you want without being stopped
A right the law gives people to be treated equally and have basic freedoms
A basic freedom or protection every person should have
A basic right protected by law against unfair government action, like freedom of speech or religion
The right of a region or group to run its own government
A basic freedom that the law protects and guarantees to people
The right to choose what to think and do without unfair control by others
The freedom to act, speak, or think without unnecessary restriction
A legal and moral claim to be free from unfair arrest and official control
How Protected
- Formal
- Specialized
- Formal
Surface Forms
Morphology
individual + right + and + freedom
The phrase is fully compositional: 'individual' modifies 'rights and freedoms', so a learner who knows 'individual', 'right', and 'freedom' can infer it refers to the basic entitlements belonging to each person. This construction is a common, literal noun phrase found across languages and follows standard English composition, making it immediately comprehensible to a B1 learner.
Etymology
Individual rights and freedoms is based on a simple picture: every person has their own rights and freedoms, like a small shield or key they carry to protect what they can do and say. That's why the phrase means the basic liberties that belong 'to each person' and are often kept safe by law.