Drets

Drets is the Catalan noun meaning rights, referring to legal or moral entitlements that individuals or groups may possess. In everyday language and in formal discourse, drets encompasses civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights, as well as collective rights of communities or nations. The plural form drets is used widely in phrases such as dret a la vida (right to life) or drets humans (human rights).

In Catalan-speaking regions, the concept of drets is embedded in public law, constitutional guarantees, and human-rights discourse. The term is commonly used in translations and discussions of international instruments, where drets humans provides the standard Catalan rendering of “human rights.” This aligns Catalan-speaking jurisdictions with the universal framework established by documents like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related treaties.

Historically, the idea of drets has paralleled broader movements toward liberal constitutionalism, democracy, and social rights. Today, it features prominently in legal codes, political debate, and education, reflecting a commitment to safeguarding individual freedoms, due process, equality before the law, and access to essential services. In Catalan-speaking communities such as Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, Valencia, and Andorra, drets remains a central element of civic life and public policy.

See also: Human rights, Civil liberties, Catalan law, Universal Declaration of Human Rights.