Right to life

Right to life The human right to life is the most basic right of all. We all have a right to life and thus cannot be unjustly killed. This means that nobody, including the Government, can try to end your life. It also means the Government should take appropriate measures to safeguard life by making laws to protect you and, in some circumstances, by taking steps to protect you if your life is at risk. Public authorities should also consider your right to life when making decisions that might put you in danger or that affect your life expectancy. If a member of your family dies in circumstances that involve the state, you may have the right to an investigation. The state is also required to investigate suspicious deaths and deaths in custody. A social worker from the domestic violence team in a local authority used human rights arguments to get new accommodation for a woman and her family at risk of serious harm from a violent ex-partner. She based her case on the local authority’s obligation to protect the family’s right to life and the right not to be treated in an inhuman or degrading way. So many other rights are tied up to this one, it is easy to see how important it is. It boils down to this. In fair and just society, it is important that we live in a place where there is the rule of law not the rule of man. Ultimately, it could be said that of all the rights, none is more important than the right to life. It means simply that no one can be deprived of life or liberty without the due process of law.