In general terms, the convention protects what are universally accepted as the basic civil and political rights in any democratic state. These are the right to life; the right to freedom from torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; the right to freedom from slavery, servitude or forced compulsory labour; the right to liberty and security of the person; the right to fair and public trial within a reasonable time; the right to freedom from retrospective criminal law and no punishment without law; the right to respect for private and family life as well as home and correspondence; the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; the right to freedom of expression; the right to marry and found a family; the right to an effective remedy for violation of rights as set out in the convention and prohibition of discrimination in the enjoyment of those rights.