Why do we need rights in …

A. Rights in themselves are very necessary for the very sustenance of a democracy. Without rights, democracy will become meaningless and ineffective.
B. For democratic elections to take place, it is necessary that citizens should have the right to express their opinions, form political parties and take part in political activities.
C. Rights protect minorities from the oppression of majority. They ensure that the majority cannot do whatever it wishes. Rights are guarantees which can be used when things go wrong. Things may go wrong when some citizens may wish to take away the rights of others. This usually happens when those in majority want to dominate those in minority. 
D. The government is expected to protect citizen’s rights. But sometimes elected government may not protect or may even attack its own citizens. So, some rights need to be placed higher than the government so that it cannot violate them.
E. In most democracies, the basic rights of the citizens are written down in the Constitution.