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Rights linked to the human person
This sheet helps you know the fundamental rights. It also helps you understand how they apply.
Key points of the sheet
- Rights linked to the person are the rights of all human beings. They are natural, individual, civic and political rights.
- Every person has the right to equality before the law and to liberty.
- Every person also has the right to safety and to resistance to oppression. These rights are unalterable fundamental freedoms, that is, they cannot be changed.
- Equality before the law gives universal suffrage and equality of the sexes. There is also equality before tax, justice, access to employment and access to culture.
- The principle of liberty gives freedom of expression, freedom of worship or religion, and the right to strike.
- The right to property is the basis of the freedom to use one's possessions and to start a business.
- The right to safety requires respect for the rights of the defence. These include a fair trial and the presumption of innocence.
- The rights of the defence also include the right to a lawyer, the right to remain silent and the protection of individual freedom.
Words to know
- natural rights (droits naturels)
- They are rights that every individual has simply because he or she is a human being.
- unalterable (inaltérables)
- Fundamental freedoms are unalterable: they cannot be changed.
- universal suffrage (suffrage universel)
- It is the right to vote for every citizen.
- equality of the sexes (l’égalité des sexes)
- Women and men must receive equal treatment. They must not suffer discrimination based on their sex or gender.
- the right to strike (le droit de grève)
- It is the right of an employee to stop working to express disagreement.
- the right to a fair trial (le droit à un procès équitable)
- The person is assisted, in the language he or she understands.
- the presumption of innocence (la présomption d’innocence)
- An accused person is said to be innocent as long as his or her guilt has not been proven.
Test yourself: 3 questions
Fundamental freedoms are unalterable. What does this mean?
In French, the language of the exam: Les libertés fondamentales sont inaltérables. Qu'est-ce que cela veut dire ?
The sheet says these freedoms are unalterable, that is, they cannot be changed.
What does the presumption of innocence mean?
In French, the language of the exam: Que signifie la présomption d'innocence ?
Every accused person is said to be innocent as long as his or her guilt has not been proven.
Which right is the basis of the freedom to start a business?
In French, the language of the exam: Quel droit fonde la liberté d'entreprendre ?
The right to property is the basis of the freedom to use one's possessions and to start a business.
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Questions on the ministry's list that rest on this sheet
- Which freedom allows everyone to express their ideas?
- What does "suffrage universel" mean?
- What is the right to strike?
- Which right lets a person defend themselves before the courts?
- Which freedom lets a person believe in the religion of their choice?
- What is freedom of expression?
More in this topic (Fundamental rights)
- Freedoms within a couple
- Presentation of the main texts (3/3): the Charter for the Environment (Charte de l'environnement)
- Presentation of the main texts (2/3): the Constitution of the Fifth Republic
Source
Sheet “Les droits liés à la personne humaine” of the French Ministry of the Interior: formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr. Content published under the Etalab Open Licence 2.0. This page is a plain-language adaptation made by Hexaciv, which is not an official site: if in doubt, the ministry's text is the one that counts.
Ministry sheet read on 23 October 2026, still identical on 25 October 2026.