Isikuõiguste

Isikuõiguste is the set of rights that protect a person as a legal subject and as a human being. They encompass civil, political, and social rights that safeguard personal autonomy, dignity, privacy, equality before the law, and participation in public life. While the exact content of isikuõigused can vary by jurisdiction, they are generally rooted in constitutional and statutory guarantees.

In many countries, including Estonia, isikuõigused are enshrined in the constitution and in a body of laws that regulate the state’s powers and individuals’ freedoms. Core rights typically include protection of life and bodily integrity, privacy and home, freedom of expression and assembly, the right to a fair trial, and equality before the law. The protection of personal data has become an important element of isikuõigused in the digital age, linking to data protection laws that govern collection, processing, and storage of information about individuals.

Internationally, isikuõigused align with universal human rights standards found in documents such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and regional instruments like the European Convention on Human Rights. Within the European Union, isikuõigused are supported by EU-wide regulations, including data protection rules that give individuals rights to access, correct, or delete their data and to object to processing.

Rights are not absolute; they may be restricted by law to protect the rights of others, public order, or national security, provided such limitations are proportionate and necessary. Understanding isikuõigused involves recognizing the balance between individual freedoms and collective interests in a constitutional and legal context.