Individual freedoms that are thought to be essential to the operation of liberal democratic societies. These include freedom of speech, association, religion, conscience and movement, freedom before the law, and the right to a fair trial. In some political systems (eg the USA) the freedoms are constitutionally guaranteed in a bill of rights, while in others (eg the UK) they form part of the ordinary law.
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Civil liberties is the name given to freedoms that protect the individual from government. See also civil rights and human rights
Basic civil liberties include freedom of assembly, freedom of religion, and freedom of speech. Other states have enacted similar laws through a variety of legal means, including signing and ratifying or otherwise giving effect to key conventions such as the European Convention on Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Civil liberties by country
The European Convention on Human Rights, to which most European countries, including all of the European Union, belong, enumerates a number of civil liberties and is of varying constitutional force in different European states.
The Constitution of Canada includes the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms which guarantees many of the same rights as the U.S. constitution, with the notable exceptions of protection against establishment of religion.
The Constitution of People's Republic of China (apply to mainland China only, not to Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan) , especially its Fundamental Rights and Duties of Citizens, claims to protect many civil liberties. See Civil liberties in the People's Republic of China
While the United Kingdom has no codified constitution, relying on a number of legal conventions and pieces of legislation, it is a signatory to the European Convention on Human Rights which covers both human rights and civil liberties.
The United States Constitution, especially its Bill of Rights, protects many civil liberties. See Civil liberties in the United States
Controversies in the UK
After the September 11, 2001 attacks the UK passed the Anti-Terrorism Crime and Security Act 2001, Part 4 of which provided for the indefinite detention without trial of foreign nationals whom the Home Secretary suspected of involvement in terrorism. The courts have yet to rule on the compatibility of these orders, although human rights groups have argued they are incompatible with both Article 5 (the right to liberty) and Article 6 (the right to a fair trial).
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