When the human rights of an individual or group of people are not respected, we say that their rights have been violated. These violations can occur worldwide, perpetrated by a variety of actors, from governments and organizations to service workers or any citizen. They are often the result of inadequate practices or poorly implemented policies, but sometimes they occur unintentionally, without any intent to cause harm.

Certain population groups are at greater risk of experiencing discrimination , social exclusion, and violations of their rights, such as women, migrants, children, LGBTQ+ individuals, older adults, and people with disabilities or mental health conditions. These groups often face discrimination in all aspects of life (at work, school, within the family, etc.), stemming from complex, interconnected factors as well as power imbalances between different groups.