The right to respect the personality of the individual is a _________

Analyze the question The question asks which category of rights covers "respect for the personality of the individual." This is about the classification of human rights in Government.

Explain the concept Rights are grouped into categories:

• Natural rights: rights people are believed to have by nature (life, liberty, property), as argued by John Locke.
• Civil rights: rights guaranteed by law that protect an individual's personal freedom and dignity. They include the right to life, personal liberty, fair hearing, freedom of expression, freedom of movement, and respect for the dignity and personality of the human person.
• Social rights: rights concerning welfare, such as education, health care, and housing.
• Economic rights: rights concerning work, fair wages, owning property, and choosing an occupation.

Show the solution

1. Respect for the personality or dignity of the individual is about protecting a person from degrading treatment, torture, and slavery.
2. In Nigeria, this appears in Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution, "Fundamental Rights" (Section 34: right to dignity of the human person). These are legally enforceable civil rights.
3. It is not mainly about welfare (social) or work and income (economic).
4. Natural rights is a tempting option, because dignity is inherent. But in the WASSCE classification, the right to respect for personality is listed among civil rights, which are protected by law.

Identify the answer The correct option is A. civil right.

Tip Think of "civil" as the "constitutional, legal protections of the person": life, liberty, dignity, fair hearing, and expression. If the question mentions welfare, think social. If it mentions jobs or money, think economic.