This consciousness grants us the ability to reason, thus we can freely choose between x or y, or x and not x, and develop an ingrained sense of what choices are right and wrong. The ability to make free choices and knowledge of right and wrong, or morality, are the foundation of human rights. As humans, we are entitled to certain standards of living such that the free exercise of these same faculties can be preserved. Having human rights entitles us to be autonomous, and to have self-determination. Many of our other rights are derived from these two basic tenets of the human rights philosophy.
Human rights are important for several reasons.
They serve to protect individuals and their choices, so the value of each person is recognized. It has also been said that, human rights are not necessary to live, but they are necessary to live well. Overall, human rights are important because they give one the moral basis to stand up for oneself. Finally, human rights are important because of the goals they set for society. Because human rights protect our most basic values as human beings, they aspire to be self-liquidating, thus creating a world where these values would no longer be challenged.