There is something special about the fact that we are given rights based solely upon being human. Two words that are important to distinguish between are rectitude and entitlement. When an individual speaks of something being right, they are talking about a right of rectitude. Speaking of someone having a right is a right of entitlement. So, rights of rectitude are about something being right as oppossed to entitlement which is someone having the right.
Human rights are rights of entitlement.
Humans have these rights for being human. Jack Donnelly says that human rights are based on morality- a morality that we all have in common for being human. This is because there is so much human potential that we all have and need the rights to use. It is also important to differentiate between intrinsic and instrumental value. Something of intrinsic value is valuable because of what it is.