Rights and the laws relationship: which statement is true?

• A. Laws automatically protect all rights in all contexts.
• B. Laws protect people only when they protect their rights, as illustrated by protecting the right to education.
• C. Rights are unaffected by laws.
• D. Laws do not influence rights in any way.

Answer: (B)

Rights are protected through laws, which are the mechanism that recognises and enforces those rights. A law only protects people to the extent that it safeguards a right in practice. The right to education gives a clear example: when there’s a law guaranteeing free and accessible education, it directly protects that right and enables individuals to obtain schooling. That’s why laws are effective in protecting people only when they defend rights. The other ideas misstate the relationship—rights aren’t independent of law, and laws can and do influence how rights are recognised and exercised.