I. >> H  uman Rights and Indicators: Rationale and Some Concerns >> What are human rights? that may be discharged progressively if resources are lacking. For instance, the obligation not to discriminate between different population groups in the realization of human rights, whether civil, political, economic, social or cultural rights, is an immediate obligation. Similarly, the legal obligations of the State to respect (e.g., the freedom of expression by not using unnecessary or disproportionate force against demonstrators) and protect (e.g., the right to work or to just and favourable conditions of work by Fig. III ensuring that private employers comply with basic labour standards) are seen essentially as immediate obligations. In most instances, civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights entail immediate obligations as well as aspects of progressive realization. Immediate obligations, especially in relation to civil and political rights, have traditionally been better known and enforced, principally through judicial processes. Human rights characteristics Universal Inalienable Interrelated Interdependent Indivisible Human rights are universal, regardless of political, economic or cultural systems Human rights are inherent in all persons and cannot be alienated from an individual or group except with due process and in specific situations Improvement in the realization of any one human right is a function of the realization of the other human rights All civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights are equally important. Improving the enjoyment of any right cannot be at the expense of the realization of any other right Human rights are interdepedent, as the level of enjoyment of any one right is dependent on the level of realization of the other rights Human Rights Indicators 11