人権

• Reading: じんけん
• Romaji: jinken
• Kanji breakdown: 人 (jin/hito) — person, human; 権 (ken) — right, authority, power
• Pronunciation: /dʑiɴ.keɴ/

Meaning

Human rights; civil rights. The fundamental rights and freedoms to which every person is inherently entitled.

A foundational concept in modern law and ethics, 人権 encompasses civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights. Enshrined in Japan's postwar constitution, the term appears across legal texts, NGO discourse, and policy debate. Often modified: 人権侵害 (rights violation), 人権擁護 (rights protection).

Examples

1. 人権の保護は民主主義社会の根幹をなす。 Protection of human rights forms the cornerstone of a democratic society.
2. 難民の人権問題に取り組むNGOが支援を呼びかけている。 An NGO working on refugee human rights issues is calling for support.
3. 拘留中の人権侵害について国連が調査に乗り出した。 The United Nations has launched an investigation into human rights violations during detention.

Usage Guide

Context: law, politics, international relations, social issues

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Translation of the Western concept of 'human rights' introduced during the Meiji era. 人 means person or human; 権 means rights or authority. The compound was used to render droits de l'homme and similar concepts from European legal philosophy.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal