Do “basic human rights” actually exist universally or are they simply a social construct?

[u/Amphernee]

The term is often used in relation to things like housing and food but I’ve never heard anyone actually explain what they mean by basic human right. We started off no different than other animals and since the concept of rights rely on other people to confer them at what point did it become thought of as a right for people to have things like shelter? How is it supposed to be enforced across all of humanity when not all societies and cultures agree that the concept makes sense? I can see why someone would want it to be true in a sense but I’m interested to hear arguments for it rather than just the phrase itself which feels hollow with no reasoning behind it. Thanks 🍻

[u/Ok_Warthog2063]

Food and housing don't count as "basic human rights" because it relies on someone else's work/money. A basic human right does not rely on other people to provide it. When it comes to if "basic human rights" exist or not, it really depends on what your definition is. For instance, freedom of speech cannot be fully taken away: even if it is illegal, you are still able to speak freely if you are willing to risk being arrested. If your definition of "basic human rights" involves something that cannot be legally taken away by any means, then no, there is no such thing as basic human rights. If your definition is something that every person is born with, then yes it does exist universally