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	'''Civil liberties''' are protections for individuals and groups against unjustified interference by the State. They include rights connected with expression, religion, privacy, protest, due process, liberty, equality before the law, and protection from arbitrary power.

Civil liberties are fundamental rights and freedoms that are granted to individuals by the government and are protected from infringement by laws, policies, or other forms of government action. These rights and freedoms are essential for maintaining individual autonomy, promoting human dignity, and ensuring a just and democratic society. This wiki page provides an overview of civil liberties, their importance, and their relationship to human rights and the rule of law.
	The term overlaps with human rights, constitutional rights, and public-law safeguards. It is often used for freedoms that limit what government may do, especially in policing, criminal justice, surveillance, speech, protest, and detention.

== Definition and Scope ==
Civil liberties encompass a wide range of individual rights and freedoms that protect individuals from arbitrary interference or abuse of power by the government or other entities. While the specific scope of civil liberties may vary across countries, some commonly recognized civil liberties include:
	== Scope ==
	Civil liberties vary by legal system, but common examples include:

# [[Freedom of Speech]]: The right to express one's opinions, ideas, and beliefs without censorship or fear of retaliation.
# [[Freedom of Assembly]]: The right to gather and participate in peaceful protests, demonstrations, or public gatherings.
# [[Freedom of Religion]]: The right to practice one's religion or belief system freely, without discrimination or coercion.
# [[Freedom of the Press]]: The right to gather, publish, and disseminate information and opinions without censorship or undue restrictions.
# [[Right to Privacy]]: The right to be free from unwarranted intrusions into personal life, privacy of communications, and protection of personal data.
# [[Due Process and Fair Trial]]: The right to a fair and impartial trial, including the presumption of innocence, access to legal representation, and protection against arbitrary detention.
# [[Freedom from Torture and Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment]]: The right to be free from any form of torture, cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.
	* Freedom of speech and expression.
	* Freedom of thought, conscience, and religion.
	* Freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
	* Protection from arbitrary arrest or detention.
	* Fair trial rights and due process.
	* Privacy and protection of correspondence.
	* Protection from torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.
	* Equality before the law.
	* Political participation.

These examples represent only a fraction of the numerous civil liberties recognized internationally.
	Civil liberties are not only abstract principles. They affect whether police can search someone, whether a person can criticise the government, whether a court process is fair, whether a protest can be restricted, and whether a person can be detained without proper legal basis.

== Importance of Civil Liberties ==
Civil liberties are fundamental to the functioning of democratic societies and the protection of human rights. They play a crucial role in fostering individual autonomy, facilitating free expression, and ensuring government accountability. Some key reasons why civil liberties are important include:
	== Relationship with Human Rights ==
	Civil liberties are part of the wider field of human rights. The [[International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)]] is one of the main international instruments covering them. The European Convention on Human Rights and domestic bills of rights also protect many civil liberties.

# Protection of Individual Rights: Civil liberties protect individuals from undue interference by the state, safeguarding their autonomy, dignity, and well-being.
# Promotion of Democracy: Civil liberties are vital for the functioning of democratic systems, enabling citizens to freely express their opinions, participate in public life, and hold their governments accountable.
# Encouragement of Pluralism and Diversity: Respect for civil liberties supports a diverse and inclusive society, allowing for the free exchange of ideas, beliefs, and perspectives.
# Prevention of Abuse of Power: Civil liberties act as a check on government authority, ensuring that state institutions operate within the limits of the law and respect the rights of individuals.
	Economic and social rights are sometimes discussed separately, but the categories are connected. For example, a person may struggle to exercise political rights without education, health, basic security, or protection from discrimination.

== Limitations and Balancing of Civil Liberties ==
While civil liberties are essential, they are not absolute rights. They can be limited or restricted under certain circumstances, such as to protect public safety, national security, or the rights and freedoms of others. However, any limitations placed on civil liberties must be proportionate, necessary, and prescribed by law. Balancing the protection of civil liberties with other societal interests can be a complex task, often requiring careful consideration and judicial review.
	== Limits and Balancing ==
	Many civil liberties can be limited, but limits normally need a proper legal basis and a strong justification. A lawful system should ask whether the interference pursues a legitimate aim, whether it is necessary, and whether it is proportionate.

== International Framework for Civil Liberties ==
The protection of civil liberties is enshrined in various international human rights instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). These international frameworks establish the fundamental principles and standards for the protection of civil liberties and serve as a basis for national laws and policies.
	Some protections are close to absolute. The prohibition of torture is the clearest example. Other rights, such as expression and assembly, are heavily protected but can be restricted in defined circumstances.

Additionally, many countries have developed their own constitutional provisions, legislation, and judicial systems to safeguard civil liberties within their jurisdictions.
	== Civil Liberties in Practice ==
	Civil-liberties disputes often arise in ordinary situations:

	* A person is stopped, searched, arrested, or detained.
	* A protest is restricted or dispersed.
	* A journalist is threatened with legal action.
	* A public authority refuses information.
	* A person claims surveillance was unlawful.
	* A court considers whether evidence was obtained unfairly.
	* A law is challenged because it interferes with expression, privacy, or equality.

	The practical strength of civil liberties depends on courts, legal aid, political culture, public scrutiny, independent media, complaints bodies, and the willingness of public authorities to follow the law.

	== Public and Private Power ==
	Civil liberties are traditionally aimed at State power. Modern life also gives private bodies major practical control over speech, work, access, data, and reputation. That means civil-liberties debates now often involve platforms, employers, landlords, schools, banks, and service providers as well as government.

	The legal route is not always the same. A public-authority case may rely on human-rights or constitutional law. A private dispute may rely on contract, employment, data, equality, consumer, or defamation law.

== See Also ==	== See Also ==
	* [[Freedom of Speech]]
	* [[Freedom of Speech in the United Kingdom]]
	* [[International Bill of Human Rights]]
	* [[Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT)]]

* [[Human Rights]]
* [[Rule of Law]]
* [[Freedom of Expression]]
* [[Right to Privacy]]
	== References ==
	* [https://www.ohchr.org/en/what-are-human-rights OHCHR: What are human rights?]
	* [https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/international-covenant-civil-and-political-rights OHCHR: International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights]
	* [https://www.echr.coe.int/documents/d/echr/convention_eng European Court of Human Rights: European Convention on Human Rights]
	* [https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/42/contents Human Rights Act 1998]

	[[Category:Human Rights]]
	[[Category:Civil Liberties]]